Abstract
Purpose: :
Histopathological evaluation of a single amniotic membrane technique for the transplantation of limbal epithelial cells.
Methods: :
A limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in right eye of normal New Zealand white rabbits was created by performing a 360 degree limbal peritomy and limbalectomy. Intact human amniotic membranes (AM), with (n=3) or without (n=4) cultured limbal epithelial cells (LEC), were secured to the cornea. The LEC-AM graft was sutured with the cells facing the cornea. Animals were euthanized at 4 weeks (AMs only) or 6 weeks (AM-LEC). The eyes were fixed in Davidson's solution and embedded in paraffin. Four micron sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Corneal morphology was compared between eyes with AM only, eyes with AM and LEC, and normal rabbit eyes.
Results: :
Corneas with AM were thin with only 3-4 cell layers consisting of morphologically normal basal epithelial cells and 2-3 layers of polygonal cells that did not have specifically identifiable features but were presumed to be wing cells. The corneas of eyes with AM and LEC were morphologically similar to normal rabbit corneas. Eyes with AM and LEC had 6-7 layers of epithelial cells consisting of normal basal and wing cells that blended into the adjacent, unaltered corneal epithelium. The area adjacent to the limbus was characterized by areas of fibroplasia with mild to absent inflammation in both surgical groups.
Conclusions: :
Single membrane transplant technique is an effective technique in functionally reconstructing the corneal epithelium in a LSCD model.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • pathology: experimental • wound healing