Inhibitory effect of loartan on laer-induced choroidal neovacularization in rat

PURPOE: To invetigate the inhibitory effect of loartan, an angiotenin receptor antagonit, on angiogenei in a rat model of laer-induced choroidal neovacularization. METHOD: Experimental tudy. Fifteen Brown–Norway male rat received loartan (approximately 5 mg/kg/d) in drinking water, and 15 Brown–Norway male rat received unupplemented drinking water 1 week before photocoagulation, and it wa continued to the end of the tudy. Two week after intene laer photocoagulation, choroidal neovacularization wa evaluated by fluorecein angiography and hitopathologic evaluation. REULT: The incidence of choroidal neovacularization formation wa 99.5 ± .2% (mean ± tandard deviation) in control and 72.5 ± 8.8% in loartan-treated rat (P < .01). Quantitative morphometric aement revealed mean choroidal neovacularization leion thickne of 54 and 44.8 μm, repectively, in control and loartan-treated rat (P < .01). CONCLUION: Loartan eem to inhibit development of laer-induced choroidal neovacularization. Angiotenin receptor antagonit may be ueful a prophylaxi againt choroidal neovacularization aociated with age-related macular degeneration.