Cardiovascular evaluation in rabbits: a preliminary study toward application to safety evaluation of ophthalmic drugs

Abstract

Rabbits are commonly used in ophthalmic drugs development; however, there are few reports about cardiovascular evaluation in rabbits. In this study, we examined ECG, blood pressure and myocardial biomarkers in rabbits treated with isoproterenol.

An increase of heart rate, ST elevation, negative T, a decrease of blood pressure, high values of troponin T/I, and necrosis of cardiomyocyte were detected. It is considered that the positive ino/chronotropic and vasodilation effect of isoproterenol led myocardial ischemia. These results show the evaluability of cardiovascular effects in rabbits.