PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of mitomycin C on the proliferation of cultured trabecular cells and its relation to nitric oxide (NO) production. METHODS: The effect of NO donor, SIN-1, on the proliferation of primarily cultured porcine trabecular meshwork cells was studied with MTT assay. After treatment with mitomycin C at various concentrations for 1 hour, the proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the production of nitrite was assessed by Griess reaction after 24 hours and 3 days respectively. RESULTS: SIN-1 significantly inhibited proliferation of cultured trabecular meshwork cells (p<0.05). Mitomycin C also suppressed the cellular proliferation(p<0.05) but did not affect the production of nitrite (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both NO donor and mitomycin C have an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of trabecular meshwork cells. However, inhibitory effect of mitomycin C was not related to the production of NO.
Humans ; Mitomycin* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Tissue Donors ; Trabecular Meshwork*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of cholinergics on the survival and production of nitric oxide (NO) in the cultured ciliary muscle cells. METHODS: Primarily cultured porcine ciliary muscle cells were exposed to the pilocarpine and to the atropine at various concentrations for 24 hours. The cellular survival was assessed by rapid colormetric assay (MTT assay) and the production of nitrite was measured by Griess reaction. NO production was measured after co-administration of pilocarpine and atropine. RESULTS: Cultured ciliary muscle cells expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin. Both pilocarpine and atropine did not affect the cellular survival (p>0.05). Pilocarpine decreased the production of NO significantly from 10 micro M (p<0.05). Atropine increased NO production from 1 micro M and inhibited pilocarpine-induced inhibition of NO production. CONCLUSIONS: Pilocarpine decreases the production of NO that abolished by atropine in the ciliary muscle cells. Pilocarpine may constrict the ciliary muscle by inhibiting production of NO and decrease uveoscleral outflow subsequently.
Actins ; Atropine ; Cholinergic Agents* ; Muscle Cells* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pilocarpine

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the effect of benzalkonium chloride (BAK) on the proliferation of human Tenon capsule fibroblasts (HTCF) is mediated by nitric oxide (NO) in tissue culture . METHODS: HTCF were exposed to various concentrations of BAK for 24 hr and the cellular proliferation and production of NO were assessed by MTT and Griess assays, respectively. A non-specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 0, 5 mM N(omega)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), or NO donor, 100 micro M sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was co-administered with BAK to assess the effect of NO on the proliferation of cells. RESULTS: BAK decreased cellular proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was accompanied with decreased nitrite production. The cellular proliferation was increased significantly with BAK/SNP co-administration but decreased with BAK/L-NAME co-administration. CONCLUSIONS: NO donor increased the proliferation of HTCF which was decreased by BAK. The effect of BAK on the proliferation of HTCF may be possibly mediated by NO.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Tenon Capsule* ; Tissue Donors

To evaluate the usefulness of brain SPECT as a tool with diagnostic and prognostic values m patients with acute cerebral infarction, twenty-four patients who were diagnosed as embolic(n=12) or thrombotic(n7-12) infarction by clinical manifestation and brain CT or MRI were selected. Both 99mTc-HMPAO & 99mTc-DTPA Brain SPECT were performed for each patients within 1 week after the attack Asymmetric index(Al) in both hemispheres was calculated as 200(l(right-left)l/(right+left)). Activities of daily livmg(ADL) was scored by Barthel Index on the admission day and the 21st day after the attack. The relationshiop between ADL index and Al of two types of brain SPECT was analysed by calculating correlation coefficient. 1.In embolic infarction, the Al of 99mTc-DTPA SPECT was markedly higher than that of 99mTc-HMPAO spect, but there was no difference in thrombotic type. 2. The AI of 99m'Tc-DTPA SPECT in embohc infarction was sigiuficantly higher than that m thrombotic type(p valu=.001), but the Al of 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT was similar in both types of infarction. 3.The correlation coefficient Al of 99mTc-DTPA Brain SPECT and ADL m the 21st day after stroke was statistically significated. These results suggested that the 99mTc-DTPA brain SPECT should be useful not only for the differemtial diagnosis between thrombotic and embolic infarctions but also for the prediction of prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain* ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Stroke ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*