title: Induction of elongation in cultured rat lens epithelial cells by FGF and inhibition by selenite.
abstract: The purposes of this experiment were to: (1) test if fibroblast growth factor (FGF) induced elongation of cultured rat lens epithelial cells (LEC) and (2) determine if selenite affected elongation of LEC. FGF (125-500 ng/ml) reduced the number of colonies of LEC, but it did not induce elongation when cells were cultured on plastic dishes. One hundred micromolar and, to a lesser extent, 10 mumol/l selenite also reduced the number of colonies of LEC. Coculture of FGF and selenite on plastic caused a synergistic reduction in the number of colonies. FGF (125-1000 ng/ml) induced a dramatic morphologic change in LEC. Elongated processes radiated from stellate-like cell aggregates when cells were cultured on reconstituted basement membrane matrix (Matrigel). Again, 100 mumol/l selenite and, to a lesser extent, 10 mumol/l selenite reduced the number of cell aggregates with processes on Matrigel. These results indicated that an inhibitory effect of selenite on the elongation of LEC may be a factor in the development of selenite cortical cataract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Shearer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D064586:Selenic Acid; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018036:Selenium Compounds
chemical_list: D018036:Selenium Compounds; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D012643:Selenium; D064586:Selenic Acid