Comparison of the influence of intracameral gentamicin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin on the corneal endothelium in a rabbit model.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of three intracameral antibiotics, gentamicin (GM), gatifloxacin (GFLX), and moxifloxacin (MFLX), on the rabbit corneal endothelium.


METHODS
Twenty-four eyes from 18 rabbits were used. In the GM treatment group of 12 eyes, a dose of 20 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml, 200 μg/ml, or 20 μg/ml of GM was injected into the anterior chamber. In the GFLX and MFLX treatment groups were injected into the anterior chamber of three eyes. The central corneal thickness was measured. The eyes were then enucleated for observation under scanning electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Three days after the intracameral injection, a significant difference in central corneal thickness was found between the GM 20 mg/ml group and the control group (P < 0.05), but not between any other groups. The damage rate at the endothelial cell level was 67% in the GM 20 mg/ml group, 56% in the GM 2 mg/ml group, 33% in the GM 200 μg/ml group, 22% in the GM 20 μg/ml group, 22% in the GFLX group, and 0% in the MFLX group.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracameral GFLX or MFLX was almost nontoxic to the rabbit corneal endothelium, in contrast to the toxic results of intracameral GM 20 and 2 mg/ml.
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan. covanet@aol.com
Shinichiro
S
Kobayakawa
Yoshimune
Y
Hiratsuka
Yasuo
Y
Watabe
Akira
A
Murakami
Tetsuo
T
Tochikubo
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000633:toxicity*; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D011804:Quinolines / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D005839:Gentamicins; D011804:Quinolines; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin