Toxicity of subretinal ribozyme to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen and 5-fluorouracil in rat eyes.

Purpose: To investigate the subretinal toxicity profile of the ribozyme to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA-Rz) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), as well as the highest nontoxic subretinal dose of the mixture of the two agents in rat eyes.

Methods: Brown-Norway rats received subretinal injections of 1 microg, 10 microg, and 100 microg/microl PCNA-Rz and 0.06 microg/microl, 0.

Preventive versus treatment effect of AG3340, a potent matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor in a rat model of choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: AG3340 (prinomastat) is a nonpeptidic, small-molecular-weight, synthetic matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI) with selective inhibitory action of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-3, and MT-MMP1. We evaluated AG3340 injected intravitreally to treat choroidal neovascularization in a laser induced rat CNV model.

Methods: In the pretreatment group, the drug was injected the same day after induction of choroidal neovascularization by diode laser.

Inhibition of choroidal neovascularization in rats by the urokinase-derived peptide A6.

Purpose: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of a urokinase-derived octapeptide A6 on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: In the first arm of the study, subcutaneous injection of A6 (200 mg/kg per day) into the right eyes in 20 rats and phosphate-buffered saline in 20 control rats was started 1 day before laser injury. Angiography was performed at week 2.

Ganciclovir release rates in vitreous from different formulations of 1-O-hexadecylpropanediol-3-phospho-ganciclovir.

Purpose: To determine the optimal formulation of lipid prodrug, 1-O-hexadecyloxypropyl-phospho-ganciclovir (HDP-P-GCV), for intravitreal delivery.

Methods: Equal concentrations of crystalline or liposomal HDP-P-GCV were exposed to rabbit whole vitreous, core vitreous, peripheral vitreous, human plasma, and heat inactivated rabbit vitreous, and the samples were incubated at 37 degrees C for one week. Aliquots were taken at day 1, 2, 3, and 7 and subjected to HPLC analysis for conversion to GCV.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) vector-mediated in vivo gene transfer into adult rabbit retina.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential usefulness of HIV-2 viral vector in in vivo retinal gene therapy.

Methods: An HIV-2 virus based viral vector was constructed and administered subretinally and intravitreally into rabbit eyes. After viral vector administration, the eyes were closely monitored for any adverse effects by slit lamp, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fundus photography.