Corneal Enzymatic Digestion Resistance Of Porcine Corneas In The Presence Of Estradiol And Estradiol Plus Selective Tissue Estrogenic Activity Regulator (Stear) Drugs
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP14.02 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/b94x-xj54
Authors: Nikki L. Hafezi 1 , M. Enes Aydemir* 2 , Nan-Ji Lu 3 , Emilio A. Torres-Netto 4 , Mark Hillen 2 , Carina Koppen 3
1ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland;Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,University of Antwert,Edegem,Belgium, 2ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland, 3Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,University of Antwert,Edegem,Belgium, 4ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland;Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine,University of Zurich,Zurich,Switzerland;Paulista School of Medicine,Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP),São Paulo,Brazil
Purpose
This study aims to ascertain the influence of estradiol alone and in combination with Tibolone, a selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator (STEAR) often used for menopausal symptoms and for the treatment of endometriosis, on the cornea's resistance to enzymatic digestion.
Setting
Laboratory-based setting at the ELZA Institute, Zurich, Switzerland.
Methods
Forty-eight freshly prepared ex-vivo porcine corneas were allocated into three groups for this study. Group A remained untreated, serving as controls. Group B corneas were incubated in a 20 μmol/l estradiol solution, while Group C corneas were treated with both 20 μmol/l estradiol and 2.5 mg tibolone. A 0.3% collagenase-A solution was used to evaluate the corneas' resistance by measuring the digestion time until complete dissolution of the corneal buttons.
Results
Control corneas (Group A) exhibited the highest resistance to enzymatic digestion, with dissolution times averaging 31.38 ± 2.03 hours. Estradiol-treated corneas (Group B) showed a reduced resistance at 27.25 ± 1.84 hours (p<0.01 compared to Group A). Corneas treated with both agents (Group C) presented the least resistance, dissolving in 22.38 ± 2.47 hours, significantly faster than both Group B (p<0.01) and Group A (p<0.01).
Conclusions
It was known previously that elevated estradiol levels may significantly compromise corneal integrity in diseases characterized by heightened collagenase activity, such as keratoconus or infectious keratitis. Our study shows that the addition of STEAR therapy, such as tibolone, may potentiate this weakening effect of estradiol on corneal collagen. The results of this laboratory experiment suggest that patients treated with Tibolone should be carefully monitored for corneal topographical changes.