Effect of intraocular irrigating solutions on the viability of cultured retinal vascular endothelial cells.

Purpose: To compare the abilities of balanced salt solution, BSS Plus and Hartmann's lactated Ringer's (HLR) solution to maintain the viability of retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVEC) in vitro.

Methods: Cultured retinal vascular endothelial cells were suspended in each irrigating solution for four hours. Viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion at 30 minute intervals. Regression analysis was used to determine the rate of viability loss. Additional studies were performed to determine the effectiveness of lactate in maintaining cell viability.

Results: Retinal vascular endothelial cells lost viability at a greater rate (p < 0.001) in BSS (8.7%/hr) compared with BSS Plus (3.3%/hr). Cells in Hartmann's lactated Ringer's lost viability at a significantly lower rate (4.4%/hr) than retinal vascular endothelial cells in lactate-free Hartmann's lactated Ringer's solution (8.4%/hr). Lactate was as effective as glucose in preserving RVEC viability. By comparison, the viability of corneal endothelial cells was not effectively maintained by lactate. For these cells, BSS Plus was clearly superior to Hartmann's lactated Ringer's solution in maintaining viability.

Conclusions: BSS Plus and Hartmann's lactated Ringer's solution are both superior to balanced salt solution in maintaining retinal vascular endothelial cell viability. For retinal vascular endothelial cells, Hartmann's lactated Ringer's solution preserves cell viability as well as BSS Plus, since the retinal vascular endothelial cells, unlike corneal endothelial cells, can apparently utilize lactate as an energy source.