Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that the hydroxycamptothecin has immunosuppression effect in some organ transplantations, but which in corneal transplantation has never been reported.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the immunosuppresive effect by used hydrocamptothecin on allogeneic corneal transplantation in rat models and to compared with cyclosporin A.
METHODS: Penetrating corneal transplantation model was established using 18 adult female Wistar rats as donors and 36 adult male Sprague Dawley rats as recipients. Recipients were randomly assigned to the three groups, hydroxycamptothecin group, cyclosporine A group and control group (n = 12). Hydroxycamptothecin and cyclosporine A groups were respectively given with intraperitoneal injection of hydroxycamptothecin 2.0mg/kg per day and cyclopsorine A 10 mg/kg per day, starting on the first day after operation and for 12 consecutive days. Cornea transplant was observed, and turbid, edema and new vessels were considered as clinical assessment criteria. The corneal survival time was recorded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The survival time of corneal graft in the hydroxycamptothecin group, cyclopsorin A group and control group respectively were (21±2), (19±2) and (11±2) days. Graft survival time in each of treatment groups was significantly prolonged compared with control group (P < 0.01). Hydroxycamptothecin group was significantly superior compared with cyclosporine A group (P < 0.05). Experiment results indicated hydroxycamptothecin has a inhibitory effect on immunological rejection, a promotive effect on corneal allografts survival and a significantly preventive effect on vascular growth of corneal allograts, which would be superior to cyclopsorin A in rats following penetrating corneal transplantation.