Abstract
Propranolol is a nonselective, beta-adrenergic receptor blocker with anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects that could be used in the treatment and control of many vascular disorder-related retinopathies. In this pilot study, the effects and complications of an intra-vitreal injection of propranolol HCl on the rabbit retina were investigated by clinical and histopathological means as the first step to determination the viability of intra-vitreal propranolol administration. Group 1 (n = 8) had 15 μg of propranolol HCL given, via intra-vitreal injection, into the right eye. Group 2 (n = 8) had a matching volume of balanced saline solution also via intra-vitreal injection into the right eye. After 4 weeks, all rabbits were killed humanely and the right eyes from both groups enucleated for histopathological study. Clinical observations and histopathological findings suggest no difference between propranolol and control groups (P ≥ 0.05). As a result of handling, in some cases, the eyes had light inflammation, hyperaemia and oedema with acute degeneration changes. This study shows that 15 μg of propranolol does not cause any significant abnormalities and is not a toxic dose for intra-vitreal injection in rabbits.
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Taghavidinani, S.I., Aldavood, S.J., Mashhadirafii, S. et al. Histopathologic examination of the retina following intra-vitreal propranolol administration in rabbits. Comp Clin Pathol 24, 981–984 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-014-2015-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-014-2015-6