Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of Mitomycin C applied by intracapsular infusion method on rabbit lens epithelial cells and its intraocular toxicity.
Methods: 0.2 ml Mitomycin C with different concentration (0.1 mg/ml, 0.2 mg/ml, 0.4 mg/ml) was injected into the capsular bags of the rabbits' lens during the hydrodissection of phacoemulsification. The drug was exposed to the lens epithelial cells directly and transiently. In the two-month follow-up after the operation, the posterior capsule opacification and the change of intraocular pressure were observed and compared between the control group and the experimental group; the histopathologic and the ultrastructural changes were also observed.
Results: For clinical study in the rabbit, the posterior capsule opacification only appeared in the control group two weeks after the operation. Four weeks after the operation, the posterior capsular opacification in the eyes of experimental group was not so obvious as that of the control group. The higher the concentration of the drugs, the less the posterior capsule opacification was shown. There was no obvious difference in the postoperative inflammation between the control group and the low, middle-concentration experimental group. Slight toxic reaction was shown on the rabbits' eyes of the high-concentration experimental group in the early stage after the operation. The histopathologic examination showed that the proliferation of lens epithelial cells in the control group was more obvious than that in the experimental group. Mitomycin C could cause the degeneration of lens epithelial cells. The degree of degeneration was related to the drug's concentration. The ciliary bodies of the rabbits' eyes in the high-concentration experimental group were infiltrated by inflammatory cells and bled slightly.
Conclusion: Mitomycin C can inhibit the proliferation of lens epithelial cells effectively. Its intensity is related to the drug's concentration. It's a safe and effective drug in the prevention of after-cataract when the concentration of 0.1-0.2 mg/ml was applied in the capsular bag.