Confocal assessment of the effects of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones on the cornea.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the toxicity of fourth-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic solutions on the rabbit corneal epithelium.


METHODS
In vivo confocal microscopy was used to assess epithelial structure in 18 rabbits, and tight junction integrity of superficial epithelial cells was evaluated with ZO-1 labeling in 10 rabbits. Eyes were bathed with commercial solutions of moxifloxacin (Vigamox) or gatifloxacin (Zymar) solution for 3 minutes, rinsed with balanced salt solution, and immediately examined. Balanced salt solution rinsing alone served as the control.


RESULTS
A decrease in epithelial cell size was observed after treatment with Zymar (P < 0.05, two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance), but not with Vigamox or the control. Normal ZO-1 organization was observed in controls and eyes treated with Vigamox. ZO-1 staining in eyes treated with Zymar was disrupted, patchy, and generally weaker than that in control eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
After short-term, intensive exposure to Vigamox, corneal epithelial integrity and tight junction organization are maintained. Zymar induces a loss of superficial epithelial cells and breakdown of tight junctions under similar conditions.
Ly
Linda T
LT
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA.
Cavanagh
H Dwight
HD
Petroll
W Matthew
WM
D000818:Animals; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011804:Quinolines; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin