Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Use of Rabbit Eyes in Pharmacokinetic Studies of Intraocular Drugs
Published on: July 23, 2016
Grepafloxacin concentration in ocular tissues after intravenous infusion in rabbits with intraocular inflammation
S Pérez-Oliván1, I Pinilla, M A Bregante
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain. sperezo@able.es
Purpose:
To determine the penetration of grepafloxacin into ocular tissues during experimental ocular inflammation.
Methods:
10 albino and 10 pigmented rabbits underwent a continuous intravenous infusion of the drug 24 h after injecting Salmonella typhimurium toxin intravitreously, creating ocular inflammation. The animals were killed and grepafloxacin levels were determined in plasma and ocular tissues using high performance liquid chromatography.
Results:
Grepafloxacin levels achieved a steady-state plasma concentration of 1.5 microg/ml. The drug diffused more towards vascularized tissues (chorioretina and iris) in both albino and pigmented rabbits with a tissue/serum ratio higher than 1. Grepafloxacin showed more affinity to pigmented tissue, rising levels of 40,000-50,000 ng/g in the chorioretina and iris in pigmented animals. After inflammation, grepafloxacin intraocular penetration increased in albino animals with levels exceeding the minimum inhibitory concentration for the most common ocular pathogens.
Conclusion:
Grepafloxacin intraocular penetration is higher in pigmented tissues. Ocular inflammation increases the drug penetration into the vitreous.
