Inhibition of experimental diabetic cataract by topical administration of RS-verapamil hydrochloride

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 88; no. 1; pp. 44 - 47
• Main Authors: Ettl, A, Daxer, A, Göttinger, W, Schmid, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-01-2004; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2004 British Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Animals; Associated diseases and complications; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium Channel Blockers - therapeutic use; Care and treatment; Cataract; Cataract - etiology; Cataract - prevention & control; Clinical Science - Scientific Reports; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - complications; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Disease Progression; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Lens diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Ophthalmic Solutions; Ophthalmology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; verapamil; Verapamil - therapeutic use; Endocrinopathy; Human; Cataract; Chemoprophylaxis; Diabetes mellitus; Calcium antagonist; Prevention; Eye disease; Lens disease; Aralkylamine; Verapamil; Anterior segment disease; Topical administration
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.88.1.44

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of verapamil eye drops for inhibition of diabetic cataract in rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in 69 male Sprague-Dawley rats by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg body weight). One group (DV) of animals was treated by instillation of one drop of 0.2% RS-verapamil hydrochloride in both eyes three times daily for 8 weeks. The placebo treated group (D) received the vehicle solution only. After 8 weeks the lenses were removed, inspected, and photographed using bright and dark field illumination. The transmission of He-Ne laser light was measured in the optical axis of each lens in order to determine the turbidity coefficient (t) as a measure of central lens opacity. Following digital image analysis, the integrated density as a measure of central and mid-peripheral opacities was determined. Results: Lenses of both groups developed peripheral cortical opacities not affecting the optical axis. Advanced and paracentral cortical opacities were present in 10 (16.7%) of the placebo treated lenses (D) and two (3.8%) of the verapamil treated lenses (DV). Complete corticonuclear cataract developed in four (6.7%) of the lenses from group D but none of the lenses from group DV. The mean lens turbidity t was determined to be 0.019 (SEM 0.002) mm−1 (n  =  52) in the verapamil treated diabetic rats (DV) and 0.042 (0.008) mm−1 (n  =  60) in the placebo treated group (D). This difference was statistically significant (p  =  0.0054). The mean integrated density was 274.91 (22.5) in group D (n  =  60) and 196.28 (20.7) in group DV (n  =  37). This difference was also significant (p  =  0.0037). Conclusion: Verapamil eye drops 0.2% administered three times daily are effective in inhibiting the progression of lens opacities in streptozotocin diabetic rats.