[Effect of short-time exposure of 5-fluorouracil on cultured conjunctival cells]

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has recently been injected subconjunctivally after glaucoma filtering surgery to prevent scar formation at filtration sites. We studied the effect of short time exposure to 5-FU on cultured human conjunctival cells. Thirty-second exposure to more than 100 microns/ml 5-FU caused significant inhibition of cell growth and morphological changes such as decrease of mitotic cells, and scanning electron microscopy showed reduction of filopodia and microvilli. Although cell growth 24 hr after the cell passage exposed to 100 microns/ml 5-FU was restored, morphological changes remained.