Acta Pharm. 58 (2008) 163-173

full paper

Original research paper

Comparison between two cyclooxygenase inhibitors in an experimental dry eye model in albino rabbits

AMANY HASSAN MOHAMED EL-SHAZLY, AMAL AHMAD EL-GOHARY, LAILA HASSAN MOHAMED EL-SHAZLY and GHADA GHANEM EL-HOSSARY

Amany.namaky@yahoo.com

Ocular Pharmacology Departments, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt

Ocular Physiology Departments, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt

Ocular and Pathology Department, Memorial Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt

Accepted May 5, 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare the topical anti-inflammatory effects of the nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, ketorolac, with the selective COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, in an animal model of dry eye in albino rabbits. All animals were examined by the Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT) and fluorescein corneal staining test. Dry eye model showed significant reduction in tear volume, TBUT, corneal staining and histopathological signs of dryness and inflammation. On treating dry eye model with nimesulide 0.1% eye drops and ketorolac 0.5% eye drops, there were improvements in Schirmer test values, TBUT and fluorescein corneal staining and histopathologically reduced inflammatory reaction, with signs of healing and regeneration. Both nimesulide and ketorolac ameliorate atropine sulphate induced dry eye in albino rabbits. The use of selective COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, is preferred to avoid local and systemic side effects which may occur with the use of the nonselective COX inhibitor, ketorolac.

Keywords: dry eye model, rabbit, atropine sulphate, Schirmer test I, nimesulide, ketorolac