ABSTRACT
Retinal pigment epithelial(RPE) cells play a important role in proliferative retinopathy(PVR) by the collagen production involved in the formation of PVR membrane. To evaluate the effect of L-azetidine-2-carvoxylic acid(LACA), a proline analogue, known as depressing the abnormal cell proliferation and PVR membrane formation, we examined the proliferation, collagen synthesis and migration of cultured bonine RPE cells following the addition of LACA. Differant concentrations of LACA as 1, 10, 50, 100microgram/ml was added to bovine RPE cells and cultured. The cell numbers were measured in 3, 6, 9 days, [3H]-thymidine uptake assay was done to evaluate the change of DNA synthesis, and collagen synthesis and cell migration was measured. The proliferation of PRE cells treated with LACA were significantly inhibited in a concentration and time dependant manner. [3H]-thymidine uptake and collagen synthesis of RPE migration was also significantly inhibited in proportion to the concentration. The results reveal that LACA has an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, collagen synthesis and migration of bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells. It also suggest that the use of LACA to suppress membrane formation in the eyes with PVR can be possible.