[Effect of cinobufagin on the expressions of bcl-2 mRNA and bax mRNA and the proliferation of lens epithelial cells].

To investigate the effect of cinobufagin on the proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and the bcl-2 and bax mRNA expressions of rabbits. Cultured LECs were treated for 72 h with cinobufagin of different concentrations, the end titer was 0.1 mg/L for low, 0.2 mg/L for moderate and 0.3 mg/L for high concentration, respectively. The inhibitory rate of cinobufagin on LECs' proliferation was detected using MTT method; the mRNA expressions of bcl-2 and bax genes in LECs were examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Proliferation of LECs was inhibited significantly by cinobufagin in a concentration dependent manner, the inhibitory rate was 24.65%, 30.13% and 36.98% respectively for low, moderate and high concentration. With the drug concentration increasing, the mRNA expression levels of the pro-apoptotic bax were increased, whereas those of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 decreased. Cinobufagin can remarkably inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of LECs in vitro, it might be taken as one of the drugs for the prevention and treatment of after-cataract.