ABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to investigate acute corneal toxicity of commercially available diquafosol 3% ophthalmic solution (Diquas®), which contains C12 benzalkonium chloride (BAC) as a preservative. METHODS: Corneal transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) changes after a 60-second exposure to Diquas® (diquafosol 3% preserved with 0.0075% C12 BAC); 0.0075% C12 BAC and 0.0075% C12, C14, C16 BAC mixture were measured in living rabbits. Corneal damage was also examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) was used as a control. RESULTS: Diquas® and 0.0075% C12 BAC did not produce any significant decrease in the corneal TER as compared to the HBSS control eyes. There was a significant decrease in the corneal TER after exposure of the cornea to the 0.0075% C12, C14, C16 BAC mixture (p < 0.01). SEM revealed that the superficial cells of the corneas exposed to the 0.0075% BAC mixture were damaged and exhibited degenerated microvilli. Conversely, the superficial cells of corneas exposed to Diquas® or 0.0075% C12 BAC appeared normal and had normal microvilli under SEM examinations. CONCLUSION: The acute corneal toxicity of Diquas® is less than that of the 0.0075% BAC mixture. Diquas® preserved with 0.0075% C12 BAC did not show acute corneal toxicity.
Subject(s)
Benzalkonium Compounds/toxicity , Corneal Diseases/chemically induced , Ophthalmic Solutions/toxicity , Polyphosphates/toxicity , Preservatives, Pharmaceutical/toxicity , Uracil Nucleotides/toxicity , Animals , Corneal Diseases/pathology , Epithelium, Corneal/drug effects , Epithelium, Corneal/pathology , Epithelium, Corneal/ultrastructure , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , RabbitsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Liposome-encapsulated 5-fluorouridine-5'-monophosphate (FUMP) has been shown to inhibit proliferative vitreoretinopathy in a rabbit model. Liposome encapsulation extends the intravitreal half-life of this antiproliferative drug by a factor of 28 times. METHODS: The current study investigated the retinal toxicity of intravitreal injections of 10, 50, and 100 micrograms FUMP as free drug or within liposomes in rabbits. Evaluation included ophthalmoscopic examination, electroretinography, and histologic analysis by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: No electroretinographic evidence for toxicity of FUMP was found. Light and electron microscopy showed only mild transient vacuolization in the outer segment layer, without inflammation. Empty liposomes incurred no toxic effects on the retina. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that liposome-encapsulated FUMP may be non-toxic to the retina at doses that inhibit proliferative retinopathy.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/toxicity , Retina/drug effects , Uracil Nucleotides/toxicity , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Drug Carriers , Electroretinography , Liposomes , Rabbits , Retina/physiopathology , Retina/ultrastructure , Uracil Nucleotides/administration & dosage , Vitreous BodyABSTRACT
We have cloned the gene for the lac operon repressor (lacI) of Escherichia coli into the M13 related phage f1. Mutagenesis of the lacI gene was performed in vitro by filling dsDNA molecules gapped over the lacI gene with Avian Myeloblastosis Virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase. LacI mutants are found at a frequency of 1 in 10(4) using a genetic screen in vivo. For two-thirds of the 60 mutants, lesions were identified within the first 400 bases of lacI, by dideoxy sequencing. An unexpectedly wide range of different lesions were observed, including transitions, transversions, and deletions (of which the most common were the removal of single base pairs). The replacement of dTTP by dBrUTP in the filling reaction resulted in a doubling of deletions in the sample population as well as the anticipated T to C and C to T transitions. Although the lacI gene has been extensively studied in vivo, the power of this technique for mutagenesis in vitro is demonstrated by the generation of three previously undescribed lacI mutations.
