Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:1320-1323 ( November )
Gefarnate increases PAS positive cell density in rabbit
conjunctiva
Masatsugu Nakamura,a
Ken-ichi Endo,a
Katsuhiko Nakata,a
Takashi Hamanob
a Nara Research and Development Center, Santen
Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Ikoma, Nara, Japan, b Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka
University School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
Correspondence to: Masatsugu Nakamura, PhD,
Nara Research and Development Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd,
8916-16 Takayama-cho, Ikoma-shi, Nara, 630-0101, Japan.
Accepted for publication 12 May 1998
AIMS
The effects of three drugs for the treatment
of gastritis and gastric ulcergefarnate, ecabet sodium, and
troxipideon periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive cell density in
rabbit conjunctiva in vivo were investigated.
METHODSEye drops containing gefarnate (0.1%,
1%), ecabet sodium (0.1%, 1%), or troxipide (0.1%, 1%) were
instilled in both eyes of rabbits, six times a day for 7 days. On the
eighth day, filter paper was gently pressed on the bulbar and palpebral
conjunctiva, and impression cytology was performed with PAS staining.
Three points in each specimen were selected randomly, and PAS stained cells were counted.
RESULTSThe instillation of gefarnate increased
PAS positive cell density significantly at the concentration of 1% (p
<0.05). In contrast, instillation of ecabet sodium or troxipide failed
to change PAS positive cell density.
CONCLUSIONSThese results demonstrated that
gefarnate stimulates PAS positive cell density in rabbit conjunctiva.
Keywords:
gefarnate;
goblet cell;
mucin;
conjunctiva;
rabbit
© 1998 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
