Evaluation of extended release brimonidine intravitreal device in normotensive rabbit eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety profile of a brimonidine extended release intravitreal implant, in normotensive rabbit eyes.


METHODS
Devices were made from hollow poly-l-lactic acid (PLA) tubes and contained hundred micrograms of brimonidine pamoate. Device was injected intravitreally in one eye of 12 New Zealand pigmented rabbits, whereas other eye was injected with a sham implant in masked fashion. Ocular examination was conducted at baseline and months 1, 3 and 6 including dilated fundus examination and electro-retinogram (ERG). Four rabbits were sacrificed at each time-point for retinal histology. ERG data were compared between groups and time-points using anova.


RESULTS
No complications were reported from either eye of any rabbits over a 6-month period. Photopic A wave was reduced in the control eye at 1 month compared with baseline (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in other ERG parameters between the groups at different time-points. Gross retinal histology was normal at all time-points.


CONCLUSIONS
Extended release intravitreal brimonidine device was found to be safe and in normotensive rabbit eyes.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. spdeokule@gmail.com
Sunil P
SP
Deokule
Judit Z
JZ
Baffi
Hong
H
Guo
Marty
M
Nazzaro
Hiroki
H
Kaneko
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D003623:Dark Adaptation / Q000502:physiology; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004343:Drug Implants; D004596:Electroretinography; D008297:Male; D011091:Polyesters; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004343:Drug Implants; D011091:Polyesters; D011810:Quinoxalines; C033616:poly(lactide); D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate