Latanoprost eye drops induce conjunctival lymphatic vessel development

AIM:To investigate the effect of latanoprost eye drops on the conjunctival lymphatics.METHODS:Twenty-four healthy New Zealand White rabbits weighing 1.5 to 2.0 kg were randomly divided into three groups:latanoprost group(n=8)administered with latanoprost eye drops once a day for 2 mo,carteolol group(n=8)administered with carteolol eye drops once a day for 2 mo,and control group(n=8)without any treatment.The conjunctival tissues in the three groups were extracted to investigate the expression levels of 5’-nucleotidase(5’-Nase)by Western blot,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),and immunofluorescence staining,respectively.RESULTS:The protein expression level of 5’-Nase was significantly higher in latanoprost group than carteolol group(F=231.175,P<0.001)and control group(P<0.001),while there was no significant difference between the carteolol group and the control group(P>0.05).The m RNA expression level of 5’-Nase in the latanoprost group was also significantly higher than carteolol group(F=71.169 P<0.005)and control group(P<0.005).The conjunctival lymphatics were positive immunofluorescence stained with the 5’-Nase antibodies in the latanoprost group and not stained in the control group.CONCLUSION:Latanoprost eye drops can induce conjunctival lymphangiogenesis which may be concerned in clinical implications.