AIM: To investigate the effect of suramin concentration changes on trabeculectomy in rabbit, and to provide treatment strategies for glaucoma on the basis of experiment.

METHODS:Thirty-two albino rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, including standard control group, experimental group Ⅰ, experimental group Ⅱ, and experimental group Ⅲ. Each eye was performed standard trabeculectomy. During surgery, standard control group was given a piece of cotton with 0.3mg/mL mitomycin C(MMC)for 2min, and the other three groups were given a piece of cotton with 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5mg/mL suramin respectively for 2min. The filtering blebs and intraocular pressure(IOP)were observed at the 3, 7, 15, and 30d after surgery. Some conjunctiral specimen were observed with hitochemicall(HE staining)and immunohistochemicall methods.

RESULTS: At postoperative 7, 15, and 30d, the changes of the IOP, functional filtering blebs, and the number of positive cell nuclear in experimental group Ⅱ and experimental group Ⅲ were significantly different compared with those in standard control group and experimental group Ⅰ(all P<0.05), and the differences between experimental group Ⅰ and standard control group were not significant(P>0.05). The changes of the IOP and the number of positive cell nuclear in experimental group Ⅲ were significantly different compared with those in experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05), whereas the differences in functional filtering blebs between experimental group Ⅲ and experimental group Ⅱ were not significant(P>0.05). The status of filtering channel in experimental group Ⅱ and experimental group Ⅲ were better than those in experimental group Ⅰ and standard control group.

CONCLUSION: The concentration of suramin has a significantly influence on its effect. When the concentration is 0.3mg/mL, the antiproliferative effect of suramin is no more than that of MMC. The effect of 0.4,0.5mg/mL suramin is better than MMC. 0.5mg/mL suramin has a better effect on controlling IOP and suppressing the growth of fibroblasts than 0.4mg/mL suramin.