title: Structural and Histologic Eyelid Changes Associated with 6 Months of Topical Bimatoprost in the Rabbit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the periorbital effects of daily 0.03% bimatoprost in New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  NZW rabbits were treated with daily 0.03% bimatoprost, artificial tears, or left untreated. Following 3 and 6 months of treatment, eyelid measurements were obtained for both upper and lower eyelid distraction, as well as canthus-to-canthus measurements. Once complete, subjects were humanely euthanized and eyelid tissue was utilized for histology. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, along with Verhoeff Van Giesen staining was performed on paraffin-embedded sections. Tissue was also stained with mActin antibodies as a marker for fibroblast activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Daily, topical 0.03% bimatoprost induced eyelid tightening and shortening the NZW rabbit. These findings were most striking at the 6-month timepoint, suggesting a temporal component to these induced changes. Histologically, eyelid tissue demonstrated thinning in bimatoprost-treated eyelids compared with those receiving artificial tears. Slightly increased mActin and Verhoeff Van Giesen staining was observed, suggesting increased fibroblast activity and elastin production in prostaglandin analogs-treated eyelids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that eyelid tissue thins and tightens over time, following daily administration of 0.03% bimatoprost in the NZW rabbit. These findings are similar to what has been observed in human patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Custer
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069580:Bimatoprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005143:Eyelids / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000069580:Bimatoprost