Resveratrol exerts cytoprotective or cytotoxic effects according to cell type. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol on the survival of cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFBs).

Primarily cultured HTFBs were exposed to 0, 10, or 100 µM resveratrol for 3 days. Cellular survival was assessed using the MTT assay and degree of apoptosis was analyzed with flow cytometry using annexin-V/propidium iodide double staining.

Resveratrol decreased the survival of HTFBs after exposure to 10 µM ( p = 0.04). In flow cytometric analysis, 10 µM resveratrol did not affect the degree of apoptosis ( p = 0.89), but 100 µM resveratrol increased the degree of apoptosis ( p = 0.003). Both 10 and 100 µM resveratrol did not affect the degree of necrosis ( p = 0.74, 0.33).

Resveratrol decreased cellular survival of cultured HTFBs and induced apoptosis. Thus, resveratrol may exert antiproliferative effects on HTFBs.