PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of mitomycin C eye drops (0.2 mg/ml) on the corneal epithelium of rabbits. The changes in clinical examination, histopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis were investigated. METHODS: Mitomycin C and distilled water (controls) were instilled 4 times daily for 14 consecutive days in the eyes with intact ocular surface. The ocular surface was evaluated by slit-lamp examination, during the days of the drug instillation. The animals were sacrificed on the 15th, 50th and 100th day of the experiment. The histopathologic analysis of the corneal epithelium was complemented by immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibodies to cytokeratins (AE1 and AE5). RESULTS: During the use of mitomycin C eye drops mild conjunctival hiperemia was detected. It disappeared 7 days after the drug was discontinued. There was no other clinical sign by slit-lamp examination. No histopathologic alterations in the corneal epithelium were detected, epithelium continuity was observed as well as maturation and presence of atypical cells. The use of 0.02% mitomycin C not influence the differentiation pattern of the corneal epithelial cell. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation, in conditions of the study, showed that 0.02% mitomycin C, instilled 4 times daily for 14 consecutive days, showed a low toxic potential regarding the intact ocular surface.
Mitomycin C; Mitomycin C; Epithelium, corneal; Cell differentiation; Ophthalmic solutions; Rabbits
