Feline ocular epithelial response to growth factors in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the proliferative abilities of growth factors known to participate in wound healing on feline lens, iris pigment, ciliary, and retinal pigment epithelium cultured in vitro.


METHODS
8 clinically normal cats.


METHODS
Iris pigment, lens, ciliary, and retinal pigment epithelia of normal eyes of cats were isolated and cultured. Morphologic characteristics of primary cell cultures were studied by light and electron microscopy. Subcultures of epithelial cells were exposed to media supplemented with 0.5% fetal bovine serum plus various combinations of insulin and/or growth factors, including transforming growth factor-alpha, epidermal growth factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor. Growth promoting effects were evaluated by counting with an electronic cell counter.


RESULTS
Cells retained many of the morphologic characteristics of in vivo cells. Cell proliferation assays indicated that transforming growth factor-alpha stimulated lens and ciliary epithelial cell growth, and epidermal growth factor enhanced lens and iris pigment epithelial cell growth. Acidic fibroblast growth factor had proliferative effects on lens, iris pigment, and ciliary epithelium. Basic fibroblast growth factor was the most potent stimulator of all mitogens used, and caused substantial proliferation in all cell types. Insulin alone stimulated lens and ciliary epithelial proliferation but, combined with other growth factors, had a synergistic effect with those causing cell proliferation, except acidic fibroblast growth factor with iris pigment epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
Morphologic studies support the argument that pigment-producing cells are involved in feline ocular sarcoma. Growth factor studies indicated that ciliary epithelium has the most profound proliferative effect of all growth factors used. These data may help guide future studies in determining the cell of origin for feline ocular sarcoma.
Wong
C J
CJ
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7040, USA.
Peiffer
R L
RL
Oglesbee
S
S
Osborne
C
C
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000166:cytology; D003470:Culture Media; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007498:Iris / Q000166:cytology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014945:Wound Healing
D003470:Culture Media; D006133:Growth Substances; D007328:Insulin; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor