Influence of sodium hyaluronate on the meiotic effect of pilocarpine in rabbits.

Sodium hyaluronate is a potential vehicle for drugs given topically to the eye. In the present study, the effect of sodium hyaluronate on the miosis induced by pilocarpine in rabbits was investigated. Addition of 0.2 and 0.75% sodium hyaluronate to 1% pilocarpine hydrochloride in buffer resulted in an increased effect measured as area under the miosis-time curve (AUC) and duration of miosis. A comparison between a commercially available 1% pilocarpine preparation and the preparations containing sodium hyaluronate showed that sodium hyaluronate improves the effect parameters. No adverse effects with sodium hyaluronate were observed. Possible mechanisms inducing these improvements are discussed.