Effect of Brilliant Blue G on the retinal ganglion cells of rats

Aya Iriyama

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Brilliant Blue G (BBG) on rat retinal ganglion cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: In vitro, rat RGCs were purified by a two-step immunopanning procedure, and incubated in the presence of BBG (concentration: 2–250 mg/L). The number of viable RGCs was counted after three days in culture. In vivo, after rats received an intravitreal injection of 3µL
BBG (0.25 and 2.5 mg/L), the number of viable RGCs was examined by a DiI- (1,1􏰐-dioctadecyl-1- 3,3,3􏰐,3􏰐-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate) retrolabeling technique.

Results: In vitro, BBG reduced the number of viable RGCs in a dose-dependent manner when the cells were exposed for three days. In vivo, when rats received an intravitreous injection of 0.25 mg/L BBG, the number of viable RGCs was not affected. The number of viable RGCs showed a tendency to decrease in the 2.5-mg/L group 14 days after the injection, but the difference was not significant compared with the number in the saline-treated control group.

Conclusion: BBG was less toxic than ICG at the same concentration and exposure time in the current experimental setting.