DAUNOMYCIN AS AN INHIBITOR OF HUMAN LENS EPITHELIAL-CELL PROLIFERATION IN CULTURE

Posterior capsule opacification is still a major complication of both extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification. We evaluate d the effects of the anti-proliferative agent daunomycin on cultured h uman and bovine lens epithelial cell viability and proliferation. Afte r ten minutes of exposure, low concentrations of the agent markedly in hibited the proliferation of both cell types. The calculated LD50 for the drug against human cells was 2.20 mug/ml and against the bovine ce lls was 0.38 mug/ml. The bovine cells appeared to be slightly more sus ceptible to the drug's effects, although this difference was not marke d. Our results indicate that daunomycin is a potent inhibitor of both human and bovine lens epithelial cells in the laboratory.