Investigation of the toxic effects of ropivacaine corneal endothelium by the impression cytological method.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the toxic effects of ropivacaine on corneal endothelium by using the impression cytological method.


METHODS
The study was performed between October and December 2004 in Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. Twenty-four eyes from 12 rats were used for the research. They were divided into 4 groups, each containing 3 different ropivacaine concentrations and a control. Immediately after enucleation, the corneas were excised and the endothelium was exposed to unpreserved ropivacaine 0.01, 0.1, or 1% and balanced salt solutions (BSS) as a control (6 corneas/group) for 20 minutes. The specimens were obtained by impression cytology method and stained with periodic acid shift. Then, they were examined under light microscope.


RESULTS
Blurring at cell membrane borders, vacuolization at cell cytoplasm, hydropic degeneration and increase in toxic granulation were observed in the 1% ropivacaine group. Cytoplasmic hydropic degeneration was determined in the 0.1% ropivacaine group. Cell structures were normal and almost identical to the control group in the 0.01% ropivacaine group.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, 2 major conclusions were determined. The impression cytology method can be used in examination of corneal endothelium, and exposure of rat corneal endothelium to 0.01% ropivacaine solutions in vitro appears to be non-toxic.
Soker
Sevda
S
Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Dicle, Faculty of Medicine, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey. ipeksoker@hotmail.com
Cakmak
Sevin
S
Olmez
Gonul
G
Buyukbayram
Huseyin
H
Nergiz
Yusuf
Y
D000577:Amides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051381:Rats; D000077212:Ropivacaine
D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine