ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of different doses of trifluoperazine (TFP) on fibroblastic proliferation in cell cultures of sclera and conjunctiva. METHODS: 24 brown rabbits were operated on for non-protected sclerectomy and were divided into four groups. Group 1: Subconjunctival injection of 0.5 ml of balanced saline solution (BSS) 24 h before surgery. Group 2: Intraoperative TFP 10(-2)M for five minutes on the sclera in experimental filtrating surgery. Group 3: Subconjunctival injection of 0.5 ml of TFP 10(-3) M 24 h before surgery. Group 4: Subconjunctival injection of 0.5 ml of TFP 10-4M 24 h before surgery. Conjunctiva and sclera tissue samples were taken 1 hour after surgery in the treated area and at 90 degrees from it. All of the samples were cultured in DMEM with 20% fetal calf serum. The presence of atypical cells and fibroblastic growth was assessed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in all the groups and in the times compared to the control group. In the treated conjunctiva, differences were found between the subconjunctiva 10(-3) M and the intraoperative 10(-2) M on the 3rd and 6th days, between the preoperative 10-2 and subconjunctiva 10(-3) M and 10(-4) after the 6th day. In conjunctiva at 90 degrees, there were significant differences between preoperative 10-2 M and subconjunctiva 10-3 after day 6, between the preoperative 10-2 M and subconjunctiva 10(-4) on days 9 and 12. There were no significant differences among the different treatments in the sclera samples, but there were differences between all them and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: TFP at a dose of 10(-2) and 10(-4) TFP has an inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation in vitro in the rabbit sclera and conjunctiva. All the doses used produce a significant inhibition of cellular proliferation without producing significant disorders in the cellular morphology.
