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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Use of Rabbit Eyes in Pharmacokinetic Studies of Intraocular Drugs
Published on: July 23, 2016
Intravitreal toxicity of dental adhesives in the rabbit
T A Ciulla1, R Haimovici, E J Riley
1Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
Purpose:
The authors tested the intravitreal toxicity of four commonly employed dental adhesives to determine their suitability as retinal adhesives.
Methods:
Two glass ionomers, a polycarboxylate, and a composite resin (Ketac-Bond Radiopaque Poly Maleic Acid [ESPE, Oberbay, Germany], Vitrebond Light Cure Glass Ionomer [3M, St. Paul, MN], Carbchem Zinc Polycarboxylate Cement [PSP Dental Company, Kent, United Kingdom], and Kerr Porcelite Dual Cure [Kerr, Romulus, MI]) were reconstituted according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and 0.1 mliter was injected separately into the vitreous cavity of New Zealand white rabbits. Serial slit-lamp and funduscopic evaluations were performed up to 3 months after injection. Selected eyes were studied angiographically and histopathologically.
Results:
Intravitreal administration of the glass ionomers Ketac-bond or Vitrebond lead to intense vitritis within the first weeks. Necrotic retinal detachments ultimately developed in these eyes, along with those administered the polycarboxylate cement Carbchem. Eyes injected with the composite resin Porcelite Dual Cure showed no ophthalmoscopic evidence of vitreous or retinal toxicity and no angiographic evidence of vascular toxicity. Histopathology of the eyes with this intravitreal composite resin cement revealed mild disorganization of photoreceptor nuclei and outer segments.
Conclusions:
Among the agents studied, the dual-cure composite resin cement Porcelite showed the least ocular toxicity. Further studies to evaluate its intraocular toxicity and efficacy as a retinal adhesive are warranted.
