Apoptosis in Rat Cornea After In Vivo Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation at 300 nm.

PURPOSE: Peak toxicity for in vivo ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure to the lens is in the 300-nm wavelength region. However, little is known about corneal cell damage at 300 nm. The purpose of the study was to determine the time evolution of apoptosis in the cornea after in vivo exposure to 300-nm UVR. METHODS: Altogether, 16 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups and unilaterally exposed to 5 kJ/m UVR (λmax: 300 nm; λ0.5: 10 nm) for 15 minutes. After a predetermined latency period of 1, 5, 24, and 120 hours, depending on the group, the animals were killed and eyes were enucleated. Eye globes were further cryosectioned in 10-µm thick midsagittal sections. For the detection of apoptosis, the TUNEL method was applied. RESULTS: TUNEL-positive signals were observed in the superficial epithelial cells in the exposed and control eyes at all latency periods. At 5 hours, TUNEL staining was detected in the exposed corneas in epithelial cells, keratocytes, and endothelial cells with a maximum signal at 24 hours. At 120 hours, no TUNEL staining was found in endothelial cells and only occasionally in keratocytes in exposed corneas. Signs of ulceration and stromal thinning were observed at 120 hours. CONCLUSIONS: UVR in the 300-nm wavelength region induces TUNEL staining in all 3 corneal layers. TUNEL staining of all 3 corneal layers is an early postexposure event observed after a 5-hour latency period. Corneal sterile keratolysis occurs in the time window of 24 to 120 hours probably induced by neutrophils.

Topically applied caffeine induces miosis in the ketamine/xylazine anesthetized rat.

The aim of the present study was to examine if topically applied caffeine influences pupil size in ketamine/xylazine anesthetized animals. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, caffeine was topically applied to one of the eyes of 10 ketamine/xylazine anesthetized animals, while vehicle only was topically applied to the contralateral eye. In the second experiment, caffeine was topically applied to both eyes in one group of 10 ketamine/xylazine anesthetized rats, while in another group both eyes vehicle only was topically applied to both eyes. In both experiments pupil diameter was measured at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 60 min after topical application. In three of the animals, the pupil was dilated with tropicamide 5 mg/ml at 60 min after the topical application of caffeine and the pupil diameter was measured. The first experiment showed a relative miosis in caffeine treated eyes as compared to the vehicle treated eye, that changed over time. The second experiment in line with the first experiment, also showed that topically applied caffeine causes a relative miosis as compared to vehicle only that changes over time. Eyes treated with caffeine reacted with quick dilatation after tropicamide application. Topical caffeine antagonizes ketamine/xylazine anesthesia induced mydriasis in a time dependent manner.