A study of toxic effect of mitomycin C on cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells.

PURPOSE

To explore the toxicity of Mitomycin C (MMC) on trabecular meshwork cells.

METHODS

Bovine trabecular meshwork cells were cultured in vitro and exposed to MMC of different concentrations. The cellular morphology, ultrastructure, mortality and phagocytosis was studied with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and methods of Wright's stain, etc.

RESULTS

It was found that the toxic effect of MMC on the cells was in a dose-dependent mode. 1 x 10(-2) and 1 x 10(-3) mg/ml of MMC caused a large part of cells dead, 1 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-5) mg/ml of the drug had remarkable killing effect on the cells. 1 x 10(-6) mg/ml of MMC had still a mild toxicity, while 1 x 10(-7) mg/ml of MMC had not any influence on cellular morphology, mortality, and phagocytosis, etc. The safe concentration on bovine trabecular meshwork cells was 1 x 10(-7) mg/ml and the LD50 was between 1 x 10(-3) and 1 x 10(-4) mg/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

Refering to previous data, we conclude that conventional clinical-application of MMC might do harm to trabecular meshwork cells.