Purpose
To evaluate the wound healing process after DSAEK and nDSAEK in an animal model.
Methods
Six DSAEK and six nDSAEK were performed on New Zealand white rabbit eyes. In vivo confocal microscopy was used to evaluate the interface changes at 1 week, 2weeks, 1month, 2 months and 3 months after operations. Ultrasond pachymetry was used to measure corneal thickness. At certain time points, tissue sections was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemical staining, TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling ) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Results
1.The interface haziness of DSAEK and nDSAEK diminished gradually, and nDSAEK has greater interface opacity than DSAEK at all time points examined. 2.There was no significant differences of total corneal thickness between DSAEK and nDSAEK at all time points. 3.Tissue section using H&E staining showed preserved interface recipient Descemet’s membrane and decreased endothelial cell density three months after nDSAEK. 4.Transmission electron microscopy revealed morphologically changed interface recipient endothelial cell in nDSAEK three months after operation. 5.The interface recipient endothelial cell density in nDSAEK gradually decreased and underwent apoptosis in the follow-up period.
Conclusions
NDSAEK has similar surgical results as DSAEK in all parameters measured in this study. However, the interface haziness was greater than DSAEK, and recipient endothelial cell at the interface underwent apoptosis during the whole observational process.
Keywords: 481 cornea: endothelium •
765 wound healing