title: Trabecular cell division after argon laser trabeculoplasty.
abstract: The usefulness of argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in the treatment of some patients with glaucoma has been established; yet, the mechanism of ALT is not understood. The hypothesis that the mechanism involves trabecular cell division was examined. Autoradiographic assessment of tritiated thymidine incorporation into trabecular cell DNA in a human corneoscleral explant organ culture system demonstrated a basal level of DNA replication that increased by 180% in the two days immediately after ALT. When labeling was initiated five days after ALT, DNA replication declined to 70% of the control level. The autoradiographic findings were confirmed using biochemical evaluation of tritiated thymidine incorporation into acid-precipitable macromolecules (DNA) in excised trabecular meshwork. One biologic response of the trabecular meshwork after laser trabeculoplasty is a change in the level of ongoing trabecular cell division.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Bylsma
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Samples
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Acott
authors: E M
authors: EM
authors: Van Buskirk
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D001345:Autoradiography; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014130:Trabeculectomy
chemical_list: D001128:Argon; D013936:Thymidine