Abstract
Purpose: :
The aim of this work is to assess the viability of dehydrated cornea to lamellar keratoplasty.
Methods: :
Rabbit corneas were desiccated for 30 days in a vacuum desiccation chamber before the Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) procedure. After re-hydration the cornea for 30 minutes in sterile irrigating solution (BSS), surgeries were performed following a Ferrara’s technique with a modified Ferrara’s spatula and a 6.0 monofilament suture. Rabbits were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30 and 90 following the lamellar keratoplasty. Outcomes were measured by clinical signs, cell biology (Hematoxylin - eosin, Periodic acid of Schiff and Masson trichrome) and immunohistochemistry (Thy1.1, α-SMA, BrdU, TUJ1).
Results: :
All animals developed mild conjunctival injection and stromal haze 24 hours postop. No conjunctival injection was detected on evaluation at day 7 with more corneal transparency. Light microscopy demonstrated monolayer of epithelial cells and a stromal infiltration of inflammatory cells with activated keratocytes (α-SMA positive). On day 15 and 30, a multilayer of epithelial cells was present in all corneal surface. Regarding stroma, inflammatory cells were reduced and activated keratocytes and newly formed nerve fibers were present.
Conclusions: :
Dehydrated cornea could be used for DALK procedures with good integration and viability in the recipient tissue.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • regeneration • wound healing