[The effects of amniotic membrane on corneal penetration of ofloxacin].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the corneal penetration of ofloxacin following amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).


METHODS
One hundred and eight New Zealand rabbits were divided into 6 groups: mechanical remove of corneal epithelium with and without AMT; corneal alkali burn with and without AMT, and normal cornea with and without AMT. Topical ofloxacin was administered four times at interval of every 15 minutes. Five min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after the last administration, 3 rabbits from each group were sacrificed and aqueous humor was collected. The concentration of ofloxacin was detected by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).


RESULTS
The ability of ofloxacin to penetrating cornea was improved obviously in de-epithelialized groups and cornea alkali burn groups no matter AMT was performed or not (P < 0.05). The concentration of ofloxacin in the aqueous humor in normal cornea with and without AMT showed no statistical difference within 1 h after administration. But at the last three time points, the ofloxacin concentration in AMT group was greater than that in the group without AMT (P < 0.05). The comparison between the de-epithelialized with and without AMT obtained the similar result. At every tested time point, the ofloxacin concentration in aqueous humor of corneal alkali burn with AMT group was statistically greater than that of the group without AMT (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Amniotic membrane could store and release the drug slowly, results in the increase of contact time between ofloxacin and corneal surface and promotes the corneal penetration of ofloxacin.
Xu
Jian-jiang
JJ
Department of Ophthalmology, The Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China. jianjiangxu@126.com
Wang
Yan
Y
D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015242:Ofloxacin