The effects of vitamin A compounds on hyaluronic acid released from cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes.

A role of vitamin A in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid by skin cells is well known. Hyaluronic acid is produced by corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes in the eye. We investigated whether rabbit corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes release hyaluronic acid after exposure to vitamin A compounds. Rabbit corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes were inoculated with RCGM2 medium and incubated at 37ºC under 5% CO(2) in air for 24 h. The medium was then replaced with medium containing 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 μM retinoic acid or retinol palmitate (VApal) and incubated for another 48 h. Hyaluronic acid release from both corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes during culture was increased by retinoic acid at the lower concentration of 0.1 μM and 1 μM determined with a sandwich binding protein assay kit. However, it was significantly decreased at the higher concentrations of 10 μM and 100 μM, and the cell count determined with a Neutral Red assay kit was also decreased at these concentrations. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid release from corneal epithelial cells during culture was increased by VApal at the lower concentration of 0.1 μM and 1 μM, but there was no significant difference in the cell count for either corneal epithelial cells or keratocytes in the presence of VApal at any concentration. In conclusion, it is suggested that vitamin A stimulates the release of hyaluronic acid from cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes.