Effects of viscoelastics on bovine corneal endothelial cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible toxic effects of sodium hyaluronate and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose on corneal endothelium.


METHODS
Cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCEC) were treated with either original Healon (10 mg/ml) or Methocel (20 mg/ml) for 1 h, or with various dilutions of these substances in culture medium for up to one week. The toxicity of the viscoelastics was assessed in terms of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the supernatant and of cell density.


RESULTS
Neither Healon nor Methocel in a dilution of 2 mg/ml enhanced LDH release after 72 h incubation, when compared with the control in a confluent model. In a proliferation model neither diluted Healon nor Methocel showed apparent inhibitory or stimulatory effects on the growth of BCEC up to the highest concentration we tested. When a BCEC monolayer was covered for 1 h with either undiluted Healon or undiluted Methocel, a significant, though transient, higher LDH release was induced.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the diluted viscoelastics are safe for long time contact with BCEC, but undiluted they may temporarily interfere with the metabolism of the cytoplasm membranes of BCEC.
Zhu
S N
SN
University Eye Hospital, Kiel, Germany.
Nölle
B
B
Duncker
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004548:Elasticity; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000633:toxicity*; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids / Q000633:toxicity*; D014783:Viscosity
D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D008747:Methylcellulose; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase