Experimental Study of Tetrandrine on Corneal Neovascularization in Rats

Objective This study was to investigate the effects of tetrandrine on inflammatory reaction and corneal neovascularization(CNV) following corneal alkali burn,and to explore the expression of the platelet-derived growth factor C(PDGF-C) in CNV.Methods CNV mode was induced by alkali burning in both eyes of 40 rats. right eyes of them were treated by 4×10-5mol/L Tet drop and left eyes were created by 0.9% saline solution for four times daily. The area of CNV was calculated on day 1、4、7、14、21 later using slit-lamp. Then 11 rats were killed randomly, leukocytes in corneal were quantified by histological study, the expression of PDGF-C were detected by immunochemistry and RT-PCR.Results The area of CNV in Tet group was smaller than that of saline solution group in 4、14、21days (P<0.05). Compared with saline solution group, the number of leukocytes infiltration in Tet group was less significantly. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed the expression of PDEF-C was up-regulated in both Tet group and saline solution group, but was slightly less in the Tet group.Conclusion Corneal injury by 1mol/L NaOH for 30s is a successful way to induce CNV. Tet can partially inhibit the growth of corneal new blood vessel after alkali burning through decreasing leukocytes infiltration and the expression of PDGF-C.