Topical effects of atorvastatin on induced ocular hypertension in rabbits

Glaucoma defined as a group of optic neuropathies characterized by elevated intraocular pressure which is the most important factor and progressive retinal ganglion cells degeneration. Atorvastatin has an intraocular pressure lowering effect by blocking the Rho Kinase signaling pathway by increase aqueous humor outflow by reversing structural and functional damage at the trabecular meshwork leading to vasodilation and decrease the episacral venous pressure. The present study was conducted to evaluate the intraocular lowering effect, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin in ocular hypertensive in rabbits.Group of (40)adult male of New Zealand rabbits, were divided to 3 groups: isotonic buffer group (8 normotensive rabbits), this group was instilled with isotonic buffer solution in the right eye and distilled water in the left eye to show if there is any effect of the vehicle (isotonic solution) on the eye, latanoprost group(8 rabbits) were both eyes of this group have been induced for ocular hypertensive, the right eyes instilled with latanoprost (0.005%) drop once daily which considered as a positive control group, while the left eyes instilled with DW once daily which considered as a negative control group., atorvastatin group (24 rabbits), divided in to (3) subgroups 8 rabbits in each (0. 5%, 1%&2%) that instilled once daily. The results obtained in this study provide experimental evidences for the effectiveness of atorvastatin (0.5%, 1%, 2%) ophthalmic solutions on the reduction of mean IOP and have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in induced ocular hypertensive eyes in rabbits.