Figure 2. Ceramides reduce lens epithelial cell viability

BLECs (A) and HLEC (B) were treated with C2-ceramide, C6-ceramide, and C2-dihydroceramide (0-50 μM) for 24 h and cell viability was determined by MTT assay as described in Methods. Values expressed as percent survival of vehicle-treated controls (given as 100%). C: Time-dependence: BLECs were treated with either C2-ceramide or C6-ceramide (20 μM) for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Values expressed as percent survival of vehicle-treated controls (given as 100%). Data are mean±SEM of at least three independent experiments performed in triplicates. In all panels, when SEM bars are not shown, they are obscured by the symbols.