INHIBITION OF INFLAMMATORY ANGIOGENESIS IN RATS BY LOCO-REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF HYDROCORTISONE AND PROTAMINE

We have studied the antiangiogenetic effects of hydrocortisone and pro tamine given intra-arterially. The cornea of male, Sprague-Dawley rats were cauterized with silver nitrate. The following treatments were gi ven : 30 mu g hydrocortisone topical (t.p.), b.i.d., 50 mg/kg/day intr aperitoneally (i.p.) or intra-arterially (i.a.), 10 mg/kg/day protamin e i.p. or i.a. Saline was administered to the control groups. In separ ate experiments we also evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of hyd rocortisone, i.p., on the cauterized corneas. Five days after cauteriz ation, the animals were killed, exsanguinated and India ink was inject ed to show the network of neovessels. The percentage area of the corne a covered by neovessels was measured morphometrically and evaluated st atistically. Hydrocortisone t.p. (-84%), i.a. (-60%) and protamine i.a . (-44%) significantly inhibited angiogenesis in the cauterized cornea . Either drugs, i.p., had any antiangiogenetic effects, but hydrocorti sone significantly reduced cell infiltration of the corneas. The resul ts suggest that locoregional administration of antiangiogenetic drugs might be clinically useful.