Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate whether transplanted artificial cornea (gelatin hydrogel) remains transparency and thickness without affecting normal corneal morphology or not in rabbit.
Methods:
After 200 micrometer depth lamellar cut created in rabbit corneal stromatolites, gelatin hydrogel with or without collagen cross-linking (6mm diameter, 400 micrometer thickness) was transplanted into rabbit corneal stroma in vivo (n=3). Corneal thickness, epithelial defect and macro photo were observed. After 1 month, transplanted corneas were examined by hematoxyline an decision staining, and immunohistochemistry (cytokeratin K3, vimentin and p63).
Results:
Corneal transparency was maintained better in gelatin hydrogel with cross-linking than without cross-linking. Corneal thickness was significantly less in without cross-linking (n=3, p<0.05). Histopathological analysis showed corneal epithelial layers at 1 month after transplantation was thinner in both transplant model than normal cornea. Immnosutaining showed the expression pattern of K3 and p63 staining in corneal epithelium was observed in transplanted corneal epithelium similar to normal rabbit cornea, and more vimentin expression was observed around the hydrogel in both.
Conclusions:
Transplanted artificial cornea (cross-linked gelatin hydrogel) remained transparency and thickness for a month in rabbit.
Keywords: 480 cornea: basic science •
484 cornea: stroma and keratocytes