Irrigation with thapsigargin and various concentrations of 5-fluorouracil in a sealed-capsule irrigation device in young rabbit eyes to prevent after-cataract.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect on after-cataract and synechiae formation after clear lens extraction and irrigation with different substances in a sealed-capsule irrigation device.


METHODS
St Erik's Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.


METHODS
Clear lens extraction was performed in one eye of 42 4-week-old rabbits. The sealed-capsule irrigation device was applied and the sealed system was irrigated for 2 min with 20 ml of one of four substances: balanced salt solution (BSS), thapsigargin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 50 mg/ml, or 5-FU 25 mg/ml. The substance then was washed out for 10 s with BSS. The eyes were left aphakic. Formation of after-cataract and synechiae was evaluated during two clinical examinations 3.5 and 5.5 weeks postoperatively, by photographs 5 weeks postoperatively, and by histologic evaluation of haematoxylin-eosin-stained slides after the 6-week end point postoperatively. After-cataract and synechiae were graded on a scale from 0 to 4. Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance with multiple comparisons was used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
5-FU 50 mg/ml prevented after-cataract and synechiae formation best when compared with all other substances at all evaluations. 5-FU 25 mg/ml was not as effective, and thapsigargin was ineffective in this animal model.


CONCLUSIONS
5-FU 50 mg/ml used in the sealed-capsule irrigation device satisfactorily prevents after-cataract and synechiae. Thapsigargin was ineffective in this animal model.
Abdelwahab
M T
MT
St Erik's Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Kugelberg
M
M
Zetterström
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002386:Cataract / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods
D000963:Antimetabolites; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019284:Thapsigargin; D005472:Fluorouracil