Olopatadine ophthalmic solution suppresses substance P release in the conjunctivitis models.

BACKGROUND

Olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solutions are treated for allergic conjunctival diseases that are a selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist and an inhibitor of the release of mediators including histamine from the human mast cells. Substance P (SP) levels are increased in tears of patients with allergic conjunctivitis. However, little is known about the regulation of SP release by anti-allergic ophthalmic solutions.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated that the effect of olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solutions (olopatadine 0.1% and olopatadine 0.2%) on rat conjunctivitis models compared with other anti-allergic ophthalmic solutions.

METHODS

Conjunctivitis was induced by subconjunctival injection of histamine or intravenous injection of ovalbumin in rats passively sensitized with anti-ovalbumin anti-serum. The releases of SP were determined in the conjunctiva and tears using rat antigen-induced conjunctivitis models.

RESULTS

Olopatadine 0.1% and 0.2% significantly inhibited the increased conjunctival dye leaked in the histamine- or antigen-induced hyperpermeability. The inhibitory effects by olopatadine were more potent than by other tested anti-allergic ophthalmic solutions. Moreover, olopatadine significantly inhibited the release of SP from the conjunctiva.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that olopatadine ophthalmic solutions appear to exert additional SP release inhibition besides dual-action such as selective histamine H1 receptor antagonistic action and mast cell stabilization action.