Objective: To investigate apoptosis of bovine trabecular meshwork cells induced by dexamethasone.
Methods: In the incubation method of system in vitro, dexamethasone (1 - 500 mg/L) was added into the syncretic culture solution of the third to fifth generation of bovine trabecular meshwork cells. After 1 - 14 days, the culture solution was observed by phase-contrast microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and was studied by DNA laddering and flow cytometric analysis.
Results: Dexamethasone (125 - 500 mg/L) induced apoptosis of trabecular meshwork cells in a dose-time-dependent manner.
Conclusions: Apoptosis of cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells can be induced by dexamethasone, which may be one of the pathogenic mechanisms of steroid-induced glaucoma.