RESUMO
PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of indocyanine green (ICG) dye on cultured Müller cells. METHODS: Cultured quail Müller cells were exposed to ICG dye at different temperatures and ICG concentrations for different exposure duration. Viability and death of the Müller cells were determined spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: The cells did not change in viability or morphology soon after the exposure to ICG at 20 degrees C. However, further cultivation of the ICG-exposed cells after washing out ICG caused cell death and morphological changes depending on dose and duration of the preceding ICG exposure at 20 degrees C. Although ICG exposure at a higher concentration and longer duration induced more cell death and reduced cell viability, ICG exposure at a lower concentration and shorter duration raised cell viability in spite of increased cell death. ICG exposure at 37 degrees C for 60 minutes induced morphological changes soon and the cells were stained more intensively with ICG than with exposure at 20 degrees C. Shortened exposure of three minutes at 37 degrees C showed less change of cell viability and cell death than exposure of 60 minutes. CONCLUSION: ICG exposure at 37 degrees C caused earlier and more cell death than exposure at 20 degrees C. The cytotoxicity of ICG on Müller cells was dose and exposure-time dependent.