DMSO mimics inhibitory effect of thalidomide on choriocapillary endothelial cell proliferation in culture
- Correspondence to: Nicole Eter, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany; eter{at}uni-bonn.de
- Accepted 17 June 2002
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the effect of thalidomide on bovine choriocapillary endothelial cell proliferation.
Methods: Posterior segments of bovine eyes were incubated with trypsin. After digestion of the tapetum, pieces of Bruch’s membrane with the adherent choriocapillaris were scraped, digested again with a cocktail of enzymes, washed and cultured in MCDB 131 medium. Cells were incubated with 100 μg/ml thalidomide (dissolved in DMSO as recommended). Control cultures were incubated with DMSO alone or without any supplement. Cell proliferation after 24 hours was determined in a counting chamber. Purity of the cultures was controlled by immunohistochemical staining and labelling with low density lipoprotein.
Results: Thalidomide dissolved in DMSO inhibited proliferation of choriocapillary endothelial cells compared to control cultures incubated without any supplement. However, DMSO alone suppressed cell proliferation equally well.
Conclusion: In cultured bovine choriocapillary cells the inhibiting effect of thalidomide may at least in part be attributed to the solvent DMSO alone.
