Protective effects of dispersive viscoelastics on corneal endothelial damage in a toxic anterior segment syndrome animal model.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether viscoelastics have protective effects on the corneal endothelial cell damage in a toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) animal model depending on the types of viscoelastics.


METHODS
A TASS animal model was established with an injection of 0.1 mL o-phthaldehyde solution (0.14%) into the anterior chamber of New Zealand white rabbits. One of two different viscoelastics, 1% sodium hyaluronate (cohesive group) or a 1:3 mixture of 4% chondroitin sulfate and 3% sodium hyaluronate (dispersive group), was injected into the anterior chamber. After five minutes, it was removed using a manual I/A instrument, and then 0.1 mL of o-phthaldehyde solution (0.14%) was injected into the anterior chamber. Damage to corneal endothelial cells was compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The corneal thickness increased quickly in both groups after the disinfectant injection. However, the dispersive group showed relatively mild corneal edema compared to the cohesive group. The mean corneal haze score in the dispersive group also was lower than that of the cohesive group. These partial protective effects of the dispersive viscoelastic were demonstrated by the different findings of a live/dead cell assay, TUNEL staining, and scanning electron microscopy between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The TASS animal model seems to be a useful means to evaluate corneal endothelial cell damage caused by toxic substances to find ways to protect or reduce endothelial cell damage. Dispersive viscoelastics were shown to have partial protective effects against corneal endothelial cell damage caused by a toxic disinfectant.
Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. crisim@korea.ac.kr
Jong-Suk
JS
Song
Jeong-Hwa
JH
Heo
Hyo-Myung
HM
Kim
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000494:pharmacology; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity*
D039481:CD11b Antigen; D004202:Disinfectants; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; D055675:Viscosupplements; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates