the protective effect of indomethacine on sulfur mustard-induced ocular damage in the rabbit eye

sulfur mustard, a bifunctional alkylating agent, causes severe eye injury. the injury is a result of late inflammation, which is mediated by prostaglandins. theoretically, inhibition of prostaglandins by reagents such as indomethacine could result in alleviation of clinical adverse effects. in this study, the protective effect of topically applied indomethacine against sulfur mustard toxicity was assessed on the rabbit eye. ocular toxicity was studied by using light microscopy, electron microscopy and visual inspection methods. methods used in this assay showed that 100 µl of indomethacine solution (0.5% w n) two hours before exposure and throughout the experiment could markedly decrease the toxic effects of mustard.