title: The effect of gentian violet on human anterior lens epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the gentian violet staining of the anterior lens capsule during the cataract surgery is cytotoxic for the human lens epithelial cells, as an indirect indication of possible toxicity towards the corneal endothelium and the safety of gentian violet application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of anterior lens capsules obtained during the cataract surgery, gentian violet stained and non-stained, were incubated with fluorescent dye Fura-2. Their fluorescence, upon excitation at 360 and 380 nm, was imaged to monitor changes in free intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in response to pharmacological stimulation by acetylcholine. The [Ca(2+)]i homeostasis is the indicator of cellular function. The changes in [Ca(2+)]i were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epithelial cells responded to acetylcholine in both groups of capsules - gentian violet stained (n = 17) and non-stained ones (n = 33). No significant differences of the elicited responses were found in rise time (p = 0.89), decay time (p = 0.61) or amplitude of [Ca(2+)]i (p = 0.96 for 63× and p = 0.26 for 40× objectives) between the two groups of capsules (Student t test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The staining of the anterior lens capsule with gentian violet during phacoemulsification in concentration of 0.01%, does not have detectable cytotoxic effects, which would affect the [Ca(2+)]i homeostasis in lens epithelial cells. The data, if extrapolated to corneal endothelium, exposed to the same concentration, suggest that gentian violet in concentration of 0.01% is safe as an adjunct for capsule visualization in cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre , Ljubljana , Slovenia and.
authors.forename: Sofija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andjelić
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zupančič
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawlina
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057866:Anterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000166:cytology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005840:Gentian Violet / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005840:Gentian Violet; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2
keywords: Anterior lens capsule; capsular staining; gentian violet; intracellular calcium; lens epithelial cells