Effect of piroxicam on the blood-retina barrier in experimentally induced diabetes in rats.

The effect of piroxicam on the blood-retina barrier was evaluated in rats with experimentally induced diabetes. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ). Diabetic rats were divided into two equal groups: those treated with piroxicam, a long-acting platelet inhibitor, and an untreated control group. Vitreous fluorophotometry (VFP) was performed both before and two weeks after induction of diabetes and piroxicam intake. Streptozocin-induced diabetes caused an alteration in the blood-retinal barrier evidenced by an increase in vitreous fluorescein concentration in diabetic rats compared with normal rats. Piroxicam intake did not lead to significant change in vitreous fluorescein concentrations. However, the examination had to be terminated at two weeks because of cataract formation. The piroxicam treated group showed less incidence of lens opacity formation (59.1% compared to 81.8% in the untreated group, p = 0.0006). Piroxicam administration appears to protect the diabetic rat eye against lens opacification.