title: Toxicity of voriconazole on corneal endothelial cells in an animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of intracamerally injected voriconazole on corneal endothelial cells in rabbit eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various concentrations of voriconazole (0%, 0.03%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%) were injected intracamerally in 36 eyes of 18 rabbits (six eyes for each concentration). Measurements of endothelial cell counts and central corneal thickness were performed at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after the injection. In each group, five of six corneas were used for the live/dead cell assay; staining with alizarin red and trypan was done. In one cornea from each group, scanning electron microscopy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in endothelial cell counts and central corneal thickness among the six groups at any time points. The live/dead cell assay revealed no difference in the mean percentage of dead endothelial cells among the six groups (p=0.504). However, scanning electron microscopy revealed blurring of cell border at voriconazole concentrations ≥ 0.25%, indicating cell wall damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracameral injection of voriconazole did not induce a significant gross change in rabbit corneal endothelial cells up to a concentration of 1%. However, risk of microstructural damages might exist with a concentration of ≥ 0.25%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hee Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002452:Cell Count; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000503:physiopathology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D014230:Triazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D065819:Voriconazole
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D065819:Voriconazole