title: Induction of apoptosis in rat retinal cell cultures by partially fluorinated alkanes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether the partially fluorinated alkanes (PFAs) perfluorobutylbutane (O(44)), perfluorohexylethan (O(62)), and the oligomer OL(62HV), recently proposed as artificial vitreous replacements (AVRs), have pro-apoptotic effect in rat retinal cultures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat retinal cell cultures were seeded onto microporous inserts to study AVR-cell interaction without impairing cell survival. Cells were treated for 24 hours with O(62), O(44), and OL(62HV). Apoptosis was analyzed by transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assay and Hoechst stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  O(44) and O(62) did not affect structural organization and cell survival in retinal cell cultures; however, OL(62HV) induced increased apoptosis compared with control cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OL(62HV), a high-viscosity PFA, induces severe retinal damage in human eyes, although it successfully passed animal experimentation. Our in vitro study showed a remarkable pro-apoptotic effect of OL(62HV) and suggests that in vitro tests can contribute to AVR biocompatibility assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. malchiod@iss.it
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malchiodi-Albedi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paradisi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carnovale-Scalzo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scorcia
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoerauf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions