Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate corneal endothelial toxicity of corneal crosslinkers
Methods: :
Fresh enucleated porcine eyes with clear corneas were crosslinked with genipin 0.25% (n=14) , UV-Riboflavin (n=14) Glutaraldehide 0.1% (n=14) and control SSB (n=14) for 25 minutes. Descemet layer with endothelial cells were insolated and stained with alizarin red to evaluate endothelial changes seeing cellular area, number of cells by mm2 and endothelial cell loss. Cells were phtographed and measured with Image J (NIH ). Statistical analysis of the data was done using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used when significative diference was present using Sigma Stat sofware. Mean values are ± SE
Results: :
Endothelial cell damage was induced with all crosslinkers Genipin 9.4±1.5 %, UV riboflavin 10.35±1.7%, Glutaraldehide 40.16± 6.23% and control 5.91±1.8% with no diference between Genipin Vs UV riboflavin Vs Control. The numbers of cells by mm2 were genipin 2987±80 cells/mm2, UV riboflavin 2526±109 cells/mm2, Glutaraldehide 2108±153 cells /mm2 and control 2790±50 cells /mm2 with significative diference between genipin vs UV riboflavin (p 0.008) and between genipin, UV riboflavin vs glutaraldehide. Cellular area was genipin 277±8 microns/cells, UV riboflavin 296±9 microns /cell, glutaraldehide 326±16.6 microns/cell and control 288±7 microns/cell. In morphological analysis ocasional cells with edema and with granules were observed in the UV riboflavin group and celular lysis was observed in glutaraldehide group.
Conclusions: :
Genipin showed a slightly lower endothelial toxicity compared with UV riboflavin, showing to be a promising crosslinker for corneal ectasia treatment
Keywords: cornea: endothelium • drug toxicity/drug effects • keratoconus