Factors influencing in vivo trabecular cell replication as determined by 3H-thymidine labelling; an autoradiographic study in cats.

Because trabecular cell loss is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of some forms of glaucoma, identification of factors which influence trabecular cell division may provide some insight into the mechanisms and potential treatment of this disease. We studied several commonly encountered clinical situations which may affect the trabecular meshwork: phagocytosis of debris, hyphema, and argon laser trabeculoplasty. The effect of these factors on trabecular cell division was determined using 3H-thymidine autoradiography. Laser trabeculoplasty induced a 307% increase in 3H-thymidine labelling of trabecular cells while phagocytosis and hyphema had no effect on cell labelling. In addition, subgroups of eyes with a loss of trabecular cells or with inflammation did not have increased labelling. Thus laser trabeculoplasty, known to increase outflow facility, was associated with increased trabecular cell labelling while factors often associated with decreased outflow facility and glaucoma were not.