Spraul C. W., Baldysiak-Figiel A., Lang G. E.

Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Universität Ulm

Purpose: Response to growth factors by the choriocapillaris is one of the main aspects in the development and progression of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of the study was to examine the effect of octreotide - an analogue of somatostatin with possible favorable effects in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration - on growth factor-activated bovine choroidal endothelial cells (BCEC).
Methods: Cultivated BCEC were stimulated with 20 ng/ml VEGF, 5 ng/ml bFGF, 50 ng/ml TGFß₂, and 50 ng/ml IGF-I for 24 hr. Afterwards, the cells were incubated for further 24 hr with octreotide (10-⁶ M). BCEC proliferation was determined by [³H]-thymidine incorporation. The experiments were performed in normal conditions and in O₂ limited (5%) atmosphere.
Results: VEGF, bFGF, and IGF-I significantly stimulated BCEC proliferation under normoxic as well as under hypoxic conditions (p < 0.05), the value for TGFß₂ -stimulation was not significant. Under normoxic conditions, addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells exhibited no significant [³H]-thymidine incorporation any more as compared to the control medium. Under hypoxic conditions similar results were obtained after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-Istimulated cells.
Conclusion: The current study shows that octreotide has inhibitory properties after activation of BCEC with growth factor under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Since activation of these cells is a crucial event in the development and progression of AMD, octreotide may be a potential drug for treatment of choroidal neovascularization in these patients.
Support: Grant form the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SP 494/3-1) and Herbert Funke Foundation in Berlin.

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