Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the feasibility of corneal endothelial reconstruction with cultivated human corneal endothelial cell (CE) by injection of CE into the anterior chamber in a rabbit model and the effects of EC from different passages were compared.
Methods::
Cultivated adult HCECs of passage 2 (group 1), 5 (group 2) and 9 (group 3), labeled with PKH26, was injected into the anterior chamber of rabbits whose CEs were denuded. The traumatized corneas with injection of balanced salt solution were the controls. Surgical corneas of each group underwent transmission electromicroscopy examination (TEM), immunohistochemical study and clinical evaluations including corneal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal clarity by slit-lamp microscopy at different time points of 12 weeks follow-up.
Results::
Cell morphology of the injected CE formed a monolayer with tight junction formation that was similar with those of native CE. After endothelial removal, corneas of three groups turned severe edematous and opaque, and in group 1 and 2, the clarity of cornea recovered within 2 weeks with the corneal thickness of 542±8 µm that was significantly less than those of control groups (>1000µm) (P<0.05). Histological examinations showed the PKH26-labeled CEs were spread over the Descemet’s membrane with tight junction, but none in the group 3 and the control. Post-operative IOPs of all groups were within normal limit.
Conclusions::
This study indicates the feasibility of corneal endothelial reconstruction with cultivated human CEs by injection into anterior chamber. The cultivated CEs from younger generations exert a better effect on corneal deturgescence.
Keywords: cornea: endothelium • transplantation • cornea: basic science