The effectts of topical and intraperitoneal tacrolimus on vascular endothelial growth factor levels in experimental corneal corneal neovascularization

Neovascularization is a part of normal growth physiology and homeostaticmechanisms, but in the transparent cornea it may result in a sight-threateningcondition. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Tacrolimus inexperimental corneal neovascularization.Five groups which were contained seven Wistar albino rats were formed.A silver nitrat pencil was applied on one of the central cornea of the rats andcauterized for corneal neovascularization. Corneas in group 1 (control) were notcauterized and not given any treatment. Rats in group 2 (sham 1) were received 1ml saline intraperitoneally once a day and in group 3 (sham 2) were installed 4drops saline four times a day. ?n group 4 rats were received intraperitoneally 0.3mg/kg Tacrolimus per day. ?n group 5 cauterized corneas were administered 0,3mg/ml Tacrolimus four times per day. Corneal photographs were taken at 8th dayand the corneal surface covered with neovascular vessels was measured on thephotographs as the percentage of the total area of the cornea. All the animals weretreated for 7 days and sacrificed on the 8th day and corneas were excised.Vascular endothelial growth factor immunostaining was evaluated in epithelial,stromal and endothelial layers of corneas and staining intensivity was determinedsemicantitatively.The percentage of neovascularization area to the total corneal surface inTacrolimus treated groups were smalller than sham groups but similar in topicallyand intraperitoneally Tacrolimus treated groups. The mean VEGFimmunostaining intensity of epithelial and endothelial layers of cornea intreatment groups were lesser than sham groups but similar to conrol group.?ntraperitoneally Tacrolimus treated group stromal VEGF immunostaining issimilar to sham 1. The stroma of the topically Tacrolimus treated group wasshowed lesser VEGF staning than sham 2. The stromal VEGF immunstainingwere similar in control and treatment groups.Systemic and topical administration of Tacrolimus is beneficial inprevention of the corneal neovascularization.