Short-term Ocular Toxicity and Eye Irritation Tests Follow-ing Application of Sufentanil in Rabbits

摘要

Purpose:.To test the safe clinical application of sufentanil as topical ophthalmic drops by examining treated rabbit eyes for ophthalmic irritation signs or short-time toxic reactions. Methods:.Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=3): The ocular toxicity at 14 d after eye drop ad-ministration was evaluated in groups 1 to 4, and at 30 d post-administration in groups 5 to 8..Groups 1 and 5 were treated with blank vehicle and served as normal controls..The left eyes of rabbits in groups 2 and 6 were exposed to low-dose sufen-tanil (5 μg, 2 drops within 5 min), groups 3 and 7 received moderate-dose sufentanil. (7.5 μg, 3 drops within 10 min), and groups 4 and 8 received high-dose sufentanil (10 μg,.4 drops within 15 min). As self-controls, the right eyes of each rabbit were administered an equivalent amount of sodium chloride (9 g/L) at the same drop intervals. At 14 and 30 d after exposure to sufentanil,.ophthalmic irritation signs were evaluated and corneas were stained with fluorescein and ob-served by slit-lamp microscopy..Corneal endothelial counts were performed and toxic reactions were evaluated. Results: Multiple parameters were compared in the control and experimental groups by visual inspection and slit-lamp ex-amination at 14 and 30 d after sufentanil administration..No evidence of irritation signs (including corneal opacity,.con-junctival congestion, or edema), eye secretions, iris abnor-malities,.or temporal eye closure were noted..Corneal en-dothelial cell counts did not significantly differ between the control and experimental groups..Light microscopy revealed no pathological or morphological injury to the cornea, conjuncti-va, iris, ciliary body, retina, or optic nerve in either group. The same observation outcomes were noted at 14 and 30 d af-ter administration. Conclusion:.Single ocular administration of sufentanil at a dose of 5-10 μg in rabbits yields no ocular irritation or toxic responses at 14 or 30 d following eye drop delivery.