The Cultured Bovine Lens as a Measure of Ocular Irritancy

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:In recent years, abattoir-supplied bovine lenses have been cultured to measure ocular irritancy as an alternative to the Draize Test. This approach uses cultured cells and a laser-scanning instrument to measure the optical quality of bovine lenses exposed to potentially harmful agents. Quantitative results are obtained rapidly and objectively, and with greater sensitivity, than the Draize Test or other suggested alternatives such as BCOP. We report here the results of a study, which measures the ocular irritancy caused by common semi-solid and solid materials that are partially or not transparent. Methods:The consumer products tested included 2 shampoos, 4 body washes, 2 lotions, 3 toothpastes, 3 facewashes, as well as, a deodorant and an anti-perspirant; for a total of 16 products. The number of lenses tested per product ranged from 7 to 11, with a total of 153 tested lenses. An additional 28 untreated lenses were tested as controls. Each treated lens was exposed to a test material for 15 minutes at room temperature. The material was then washed off the lens with sterile salt solution and culture medium and the lens was then cultured, as before the exposure, at 37 degrees Celsius. Lens optical function was measured periodically for eight days. Results:Lens damage, as indicated by increased focal variability (loss of sharp focus), appears between 1.7 and 123 hours after exposure. Thus, the results indicate large ranges in ocular irritability on the basis of time to induce damage. This wide range is true both between groups of products and within each group. The deoderant /anti-perspirant results indicate most damage (about 2 to 4 hours) while, on average, the shampoos and the then the body washes are least damaging (about 90 hours and 21 hours, respectively). Conclusion:This study supports an earlier preliminary one showing that the cultured bovine lens can be used to measure ocular irritancy of semi-solid and non-transparent substances. It also demonstrates the sensitivity needed to produce a rank order of irritancy within the various products groups. CR: P Support: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Keywords: 494 ocular irritancy/toxicity testing