Effects of Triamcinolone Acetonide in Cultured Trabecular Meshwork Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on the survival, nitric oxide (NO) production, and migration of cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS: After exposure to TA, indomethacin, and dexamethasone for 2 days, the survival and nitrite production of the primarily cultured human TM cells were assessed with MTT and Griess assays respectively. The effect of co-exposure to the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, was also assessed. A migration assay was done to evaluate the effect of TA on the activity of TM cells. RESULTS: Cellular survival increased after exposure to TA at low concentration but decreased at high concentration. TA decreased the production of NO significantly (p<0.05). Exposure to indomethacin and dexamethasone revealed similar results. TA reversibly inhibited the migration of TM cells. CONCLUSIONS: TA decreases the production of NO and inhibits the migration of TM cells. TA at high concentration decreases cellular survival accompanied with decreased NO production. These effects of TA on TM cells may result in the elevation of intraocular pressure.

Factors Influencing Corneal Involvement in Leprosy

Recently, in leprosy patients the frequency of the blindness due to corneal disorder has been increased. We evaluated factors influencing corneal involvement in leprosy patients for the purpose of early detection and treatment of the preventable causes of the blindness. In 100 eyes of 100 leprosy patients and 50 eyes of 50 control who had no abnormality in ocular examination. Each patient was examined with corneal sensitivity test, Schirmer test(Type I) and was graded according to severity of lagophthalmos. The results were as follows: 1. 28 eyes(28%) of the leprosy patients and 3 eyes(3%) of the control patients showed less than 5mm wetting of fiter paper respectively. 2. Corneal sensation was decreased moderately or markedly in 42 eyes(42%) of the leprosy patients and 7 eyes(14%) of the control patients respectively. 3. The values of Schirmer test and corneal sensation were decreased with increasing duration of the disease. 4. In leprosy patients, 32 patients(32%) were showed lagophthalmos. The grade of lagophthalmos was increased with increasmg duration of the disease. These results suggest that leprosy patients should be followed closely for factors(corneal sensation, decreased lacrimation, lagophthalmos) affecting cornea and that treatment directed towards this problem should be initiated early.

Congenital Herditary Stromal Dystrophy of the Cornea

In 1978, a nonprogressive corneal dystrophy was seperated from other causes of congenital opacification on the basis of unique clinincal findings and characteristic electronmicroscopic findings. This disorder, termed congenital hereditary stromal dystrophy, appears to the result of disordered stromal fibrogenesis. Recently, the autors have experienced 4 members of a family with typical electronmicroscopic findings of congenital heaeditary stromal dystrophy of the cornea. In this report we describe the characteristic findings of congenital hereditary stromal dystrophy.