Hypothermia of 8°C Protects Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells and Retinal Ganglion Cells Against Trypan Blue Toxicity

Purpose To determine whether hypothermia of 8°C can protect cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) against trypan blue (TB) toxicity. Design Laboratory investigation. Methods ARPE-19 cells and RGC-5 were exposed to balanced salt solution as controls, and 0.05% and 0.5% TB at 37°C, and at 8°C for one minute. The percentage of surviving cells was determined by the resazurin test. Results TB induced a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of ARPE-19 cells surviving at 0.5% TB at 37°C ( P P P Conclusions These results indicate that reducing the temperature to 8°C has a protective effect against the TB toxicity for ARPE-19 cells and RGC-5 in culture.