Ascorbic acid is cytotoxic to dividing human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. A possible contributing factor in glaucoma filtration surgery success
H. D. Jampel
Glaucoma Service, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. 21205.
Successful glaucoma filtration surgery depends on the incomplete healing of
the surgical wound, with formation of a filtration bleb. In most other
tissues, however, complete healing is the rule. I have explored the
possibility that the high concentration of ascorbic acid normally present
in aqueous humor inhibits wound healing after filtration surgery. At the
concentration normally present in aqueous humor (1.1 mmol/L), ascorbic acid
decreased the plating efficiency of cell suspensions of human Tenon's
capsule fibroblasts by a mean (+/- SD) of 40% +/- 10%. When added to
low-density monolayer cultures of fibroblasts, ascorbic acid decreased the
cell number by 90% +/- 5%, an effect that was completely prevented by
catalase. When added to confluent cultures, the cell number was decreased
by only 14% +/- 2%. If ascorbic acid has similar effects on fibroblasts in
vivo, it may contribute to the incomplete wound healing that characterizes
successful glaucoma surgery.
