• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.525-531
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify the apoptosis caused by Proparacaine hydrochloride (PPC), a topical anesthesia, applied to conjunctival cell lines and determine whether pigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), has protective effects on. Methods: The conjunctival cell lines were treated with 0.5% of Alcaine$^{(R)}$, 0.5% of PPC and 0.01% of Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) for 15 minutes, respectively in order to investigate the effects of topical anesthesia on cells, and followed by cultured for 12 and 24 hours. The recovery effects were investigated by measuring level of cellular proliferation inhibiting using MTT assay and LDH assay. The conjunctival cell lines were pre-treated with EGCG $10{\mu}M$ for 3 hrs and post-treated with 0.5% PPC for 15 mins in order to investigate whether EGCG has protective effects, flow cytometry were performed in order to observe apoptosis. Results: A result of the additional culture of 12 and 24 hours and again immediately after the treatment for 15 minutes 0.5% of Alcaine$^{(R)}$, 0.5% of PPC, the 0.01% of BAC, cell viability was not increased in all groups (p<0.05). The cell viabilities were higher than in cells 3 hours post-treated with $10{\mu}M$ of EGCG and pre-treated PPC 0.5% (68.2%), compared to cells ($32.2{\pm}2.0%$) treated only with 0.5% of PPC. PPC 0.5% also induced apoptosis in the treated group was reduced by the addition of EGCG. Conclusions: It is considered that the EGCG has cell protective effects when it is added to PPC, a topical anesthesia, by improving cell viability and inhibiting apoptosis.