GGRGDSPCA peptide: A new antiscarring agent on glaucoma filtration surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: GGRGDSPCA synthetic peptide competes for integrin receptor in scar formation after glaucoma filtering surgery in a rabbit mo del. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of this peptide and compare it with mitomycin on glaucoma filtering surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior sclerectomy was performed in both eyes of 17 rabbits. The right eye received GGRGDSPCA (p605) at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 1G days after. Nine left eyes received saline as a control; the remaining 8 ey es received mitomycin C at 0.5 mg/mL intraoperative. Intraocular pressures and biomicroscopy were evaluated as well as bleb function. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure decreased significantly in both the peptide a nd mitomycin treated eyes in comparison with the saline group (P = 0.0003). Pressure was similar in both groups. The blebs showed filtrating function in a functional analysis at day 21 and 41 in the mitomycin cases as well as in the peptide group. Histologic analysis performed in both peptide and mi tomycin groups showed inhibitory effect in fibrocellular and collagen organ ization with bleb formation. CONCLUSIONS: The p605 peptide showed to be similar to mitomycin C in contro lling and improving glaucoma filtering surgery in rabbits. This alternative may potentially be useful for similar purposes in humans for the control o f glaucoma and improvement of filtering surgery.