title: Octreotide inhibits growth factor-induced bovine choriocapillary endothelial cells in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Response to growth factors by the choriocapillaris is one of the main aspects in the development and progression of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of the study was to examine the effect of octreotide--an analogue of somatostatin with possible favorable effects in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration--on growth factor-activated bovine choriocapillary endothelial cells (BCEC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultivated BCEC were stimulated with 20 ng/ml VEGF, 5 ng/ml bFGF, 50 ng/ml TGFbeta(2), or 50 ng/ml IGF-I for 24 h. Afterwards, the cells were incubated for a further 24 h with octreotide (10(-6) M). BCEC proliferation was determined by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. The experiments were performed in normal conditions and in O(2)-limited (5% O(2)) atmosphere.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF, bFGF, and IGF-I significantly stimulated BCEC proliferation under normoxic as well as under hypoxic conditions ( P<0.05); the value for TGFbeta(2)stimulation was not significant. Under normoxic conditions, after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells there was no longer any significant [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation compared to the control medium. Under hypoxic conditions similar results were obtained after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Octreotide has inhibitory properties after activation of BCEC with growth factors under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Since activation of these cells is a crucial event in the development and progression of AMD, octreotide may be a potential drug for treatment of choroidal neovascularization in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany. christoph.spraul@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Christoph W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Spraul
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldysiak-Figiel
authors.forename: Gerhard K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Gabriele E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D006728:Hormones; D015282:Octreotide