Indocyanine green effect on cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells: implication for macular hole surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate potential toxic effects of indocyanine green dye on cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory experiment. Cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells were exposed to balanced saline solution, balanced saline solution with endoillumination, indocyanine green or indocyanine green with endoillumination. Cells were evaluated by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and a mitochondrial dehydrogenase assay.


RESULTS
Retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to indocyanine green showed no histologic or ultrastructural changes. Those exposed to indocyanine green alone or indocyanine green plus light demonstrated a significant decrease in mitochondrial enzyme activity (P = 0.0002 and 0.005, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Brief exposure of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells to indocyanine green results in decreased mitochondrial enzyme activity but does not appear to influence cellular morphology or ultrastructure.
Sippy
B D
BD
Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. bsippy@emory.edu
Engelbrecht
N E
NE
Hubbard
G B
GB
Moriarty
S E
SE
Jiang
S
S
Aaberg
T M
TM
Aaberg
T M
TM
Grossniklaus
H E
HE
Sternberg
P
P
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D007208:Indocyanine Green