[The effect of interleukin-1alpha on intraocular pressure in rabbit eyes and its focal side effects]

To investigate the efficiency of interleukin-1alpha on intraocular pressure reduction and its safety.

35 New Zealand female rabbits were randomized into seven groups. In group-A, one eye was randomly selected to receive sub-conjunctival injection of 15 ng IL-1alpha, and in group B-D, one eye was injected intracamerally with IL-1alpha 1.5 ng, 15 ng and 40 ng respectively, and the other eye was injected intracamerally with equivalent volume of 0.1% PBS as control. In group-E, one eye was treated with 0.5% timolol eye drops and the other eye was given artificial tear. Groups F and G were treated as group D, and specifically in group-G, both eyes were given IL-1alpha. In group-A to D, the examination of tonometry, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and direct ophthalmoscope were taken before treatment and 24 hours after the treatment and were repeated everyday for 4 days. In group-E, tonometry was applied before treatment and 7 days after treatment. In group-F, aqueous humor of two eyes was aspirated for smear examination 24 and 48 hours after treatment, and corneal endothelium microscope and flash-ERG were done in group-G before and 30 to 40 hours after treatment, and then the eyes were enucleated for histology analysis.

IOP of the eyes received IL-1alpha was decreased significantly compared with that of contralateral control eyes in group A to D (P < 0.05). Peaking time of IOP reduction was 72 - 96 hours after treatment, and IOP reduction was continued for over 96 hours. The IOP reduction efficiency in group C and D was more significant than those of group E (P < 0.05). No significant abnormal was found with the examinations of slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscope, corneal endothelium microscopy, flash-ERG, smear and histological observation, except for mild focal conjunctival congestion.

Intraocular reduction were demonstrated with IL-1alpha treatment, charactered by its strong hypotensive effect, long duration and safety.