chloroaluminum-tetrasulfophthalocyanine and Corneal-Neovascularization

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of phthalocyanine dose and of time interval between phthalocyanine injection and irradiation commencement on the rate of experimental corneal neovascularization photodynamic thrombosis in albino rabbits. New corneal vessels were irradiated with a diode laser (670 nm, 2 mW) after the intravenous injection of chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine. Different animals were irradiated either 5 min after the injection of different phthalocyanine doses (3, 6, 8, 12, or 14 mg/kg), or at different times (5 min, 24 h, or 58 h) after a standard phthalocyanine dose (3 mg/kg) injection. Irradiation time necessary for vascular occlusion was recorded. Decrease of phthalocyanine dose as well as delay of irradiation onset resulted in a statistically significant increase of irradiation time. Electron and light histological examination revealed platelet thrombi inside irradiated corneal new vessels. Damage in the vascular endothelial cell membrane and in intercellular contact structure was noted, leading to disorganization of the endothelial cells layer and death of most endothelial cells. These results indicate that both early commencement of irradiation after phthalocyanine injection and phthalocyanine dose increase accelerate the rate of phthalocyanine mediated corneal neovascularization photodynamic thrombosis. Thrombosis seems to result from photochemically induced vascular endothelial cell damage.

Topics: Aluminum; Animals; Cornea; Corneal Neovascularization; Disease Models, Animal; Indoles; Injections, Intravenous; Laser Therapy; Male; Organometallic Compounds; Photochemotherapy; Rabbits; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; Thrombosis

We used chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine as a photo-sensitizer and a diode laser as a light source for induction of photothrombosis of corneal neovascularization. Corneal neovascularization was induced in 1 eye of each of 10 New Zealand white rabbits using intrastromal 6.0 silk sutures. After the intravenous injection of phthalocyanine in a dose of 4 mg per kg of body weight, photothrombosis was carried out using a diode laser emitting at 675 nm. The animals were followed up by both fluorescein angiography and slit-lamp photography for up to three months. At the end of the follow-up period the eyes were prepared for histology. After photothrombosis, thrombus formation was induced within new vessels demonstrating histological characteristics of both arterioles and venules. Most of the vessels disappeared or remained closed during the follow-up period. Recanalization of some of the thrombosed vessels occurred within the first 20 days after the operation. The combination of phthalocyanine and a 675 nm diode laser is effective for the induction of photothrombosis of corneal neovascularization.

Topics: Aluminum; Animals; Corneal Neovascularization; Fluorescein Angiography; Indoles; Injections, Intravenous; Iris; Laser Therapy; Organometallic Compounds; Photochemotherapy; Rabbits; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Vascular Patency