Effect of Bimatoprost on the Permeability of Trabecular Meshwork Cell Monolayer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of bimatoprost on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC) monolayer. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner Transwell chamber and then exposed to benzalkonium chloride, brimonidine, latanoprost or bimatoprost for 1 week. Carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer was measured using a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viability was assessed using the MTT assay. RESULTS: Each drug diluted at 1/1000X did not affect the cellular survival (p > 0.05). Brimonidine, latanoprost and bimatoprost did not affect the carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer (p > 0.05). The carboxyfluorescein permeability was not different between latanoptost and bimatoprost after 1 week of exposure (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bimatoprost, a drug known to increase trabecular outflow, does not affect the carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, the effect on the trabecular outflow of bimatoprost may not be significant.