Ciliary body toxicity of cyclosporin A and octreotide acetate in rabbit eyes: a comparison with mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil.

PURPOSE: To compare the toxicities of cyclosporin A, octreotide acetate, mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil to the ciliary body.

METHOD: We applied sponges soaked in these compounds to the open scleras of rabbit eyes. Histopathological specimens were obtained from the operation site and at 180 degrees from it on the 14th day after surgery.

RESULTS

Mean ciliary epithelial thickness in the study groups was as follows: 12.29 +/- 2.69 microm in group 1 (mitomycin C), 13.85 +/- 4.56 microm in group 2 (5-fluorouracil), 17.71 +/- 3.09 microm in group 3 (cyclosporin A), 11.64 +/- 2.92 microm in group 4 (octreotide acetate), 11.92 +/- 2.89 microm in group 5 (topically applied octreotide acetate) and 21.85 +/- 4.29 microm in group 6 (control). The ciliary epithelial thickness in groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 was statistically different from that in the control group. Intracellular vacuolisation and degenerative changes of the non-pigmented epithelium, and pigment loss of the pigmented epithelium, were found mostly in group 1 and moderately in group 2 and 3.

CONCLUSION

Octreotide acetate and cyclosporin A are less toxic alternatives to mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil in glaucoma filtration surgery.