title: Effect of topical epigallocatechin gallate on corneal neovascularization in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) for the treatment of corneal neovascularization in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneal neovascularization was induced in 12 rabbits by placing a black silk suture in the corneal stroma (24 eyes) for a week. After suturing, 1 randomly chosen eye of the 12 rabbits was treated with topical EGCG at 2 different concentrations: 0.01% (group 1) and 0.1% (group 2), whereas the contralateral eyes were treated with sterilized balanced salt solution as the control. All eye drops were applied for 2 weeks after suturing. The suture materials were removed from all eyes on day 7. The surface area of corneal neovascularization was measured and analyzed in all eyes on days 7 and 14. On day 14, all eyes were extracted to measure the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) messenger RNA and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surface area of induced corneal neovascularization was significantly smaller only in group 2 compared with that of the control group on days 7 and 14 (P < 0.001). The change in surface area of corneal neovascularization after removal of the suture material was not significantly different between all 3 groups. VEGF messenger RNA levels were significantly lower in group 2 than in the control group (P < 0.001). The concentration of COX-2 was significantly lower in group 2 than in the control group (P = 0.043), but no significant difference was observed between group 1 and the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical administration of EGCG effectively inhibits corneal neovascularization in rabbits. This inhibitory effect is probably related to the suppression of VEGF and COX-2 meditated angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000975:Antioxidants; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2