[Effects of all-trans retinoic acid on the rat Müller cell in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of various concentrations of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on the rat Müller cells in vitro.


METHODS
A rat Müller cell line was used in this study. Rat Müller cells were cultured with varying levels of RA for 24 h to 48 h. We examined cellular morphology under phase contrast microscope, cell proliferation using MTT assay, viable cell numbers by hemocytometer counting and cell apoptosis with flow cytometry.


RESULTS
At lower concentration (< 0.1 microM), RA didn't change the cell's appearance and didn't inhibit the cell proliferation (P > 0.05). However, at higher concentration (1 microM, 10 microM, 100 microM), RA could inhibit the proliferation of Müller cells accompanied with morphological changes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, different concentration of RA (5 microM, 10 microM, 20 microM) could induce cell apoptosis. When using 20 microM RA to treat cells for 48 h, a significant decrease in cell numbers and an obvious increment of apoptotic cells were observed. The percentage of apoptotic cell was (35.87 +/- 7.40)% (P < 0.01, vs. control).


CONCLUSIONS
RA can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of müller cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Yanli
Y
Zhang
Yuhong
Y
Nie
Jiena
J
Xu
Zhujuan
Z
Pan
Qiang
Q
Huang
Kaili
K
Wu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin