[Effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha on proliferation of corneal endothelial cells in vitro].
BACKGROUND
Prostaglandins, especially PG-F2 alpha, have recently been introduced as a new local glaucoma medication. The modulation of cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in various tissues are the major effects of these agents. However, it is unknown whether PG-F2 alpha also modulates the proliferation of the corneal endothelium.


METHODS
Bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCEC) were cultured according to established protocols. Experiments were performed after the 1st passage under serum-reduced conditions. A total of 10(4) cells/well were seeded and the cells were then incubated with different (5 x 10(-6) bis 5 x 10(-4) mg/ml) concentrations of PG-F2 (Sigma). The number of cells was determined every 24 h until day 5. Toxicity tests were performed by means of the trypan blue exclusion assay.


RESULTS
PG-F2 alpha induced a significant stimulation of BCEC proliferation with all concentrations tested. At the highest concentration of PG-F2 alpha, a 2-fold increase in cell number was found after 5 days only compared to unsupplemented control cultures. No signs of cellular toxicity or morphological alterations could be detected in PG-F2 alpha-supplemented cells.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, the present study demonstrates a stimulatory effect of PG-F2 alpha on the corneal endothelium. It appears that this effect is also induced by the PG-F2 alpha concentration determined in the aqueous humour of patients after topical latanoprost application. However, due to the strong contact inhibition of endothelial cells in situ, these results cannot be directly extrapolated to the situation in patients with topical latanoprost treatment.
Rieck
P
P
Universitäts-Augenklinik Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin. peter.rieck@charite.de
Edelmann
B
B
Schmidt
S
S
Hartmann
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques
D015237:Dinoprost