| Affiliation: | (1) Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan;(2) New Vision Corporation, Tokyo, Japan;(3) Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, 321-0293, Japan |
| Abstract: | Purpose To analyze the effect of calcium on human lens epithelial cells (LECs) in vitro.Methods Human LECs were obtained from the anterior lens capsule during a cataract operation, and were cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) containing 12% fetal bovine serum for a week at 37°C, 5% CO2. The LECs were then isolated with trypsin and placed in culture dishes. To analyze the effects of calcium, the LECs were incubated in MEM with calcium concentrations of 0, 2, 10, or 20 mM. After H&E staining for 72h, the LECs were analyzed with the Scion imaging program.Results The LECs proliferated rapidly and their shapes were uniform in 2-mM-calcium MEM. The LECs proliferated more slowly and had irregular shapes in MEM with lower and higher concentrations of calcium.Conclusions Calcium affects both the proliferation and the shape of human LECs in culture. Abnormal (hyper- or hypo-) calcium concentrations in the lens and aqueous humor may change the homeostasis of LECs, resulting in cataracts and secondary posterior capsular opacification. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:97–100 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2004 |
