Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the extent and the velocity at which epithelial cells from an allogenic limbal transplant move in over the host cornea.
Methods: :
4 normal New Zeeland rabbits received an allogenic limbal transplant in their right eye. The tissue was taken from New Zeeland rabbits transgenic for green fluorescent protein (GFP). The epithelium of the host cornea was scraped off, and the transplant was placed on top of the intact limbus and secured with 4 stitches. The conjunctiva was then pulled over the transplant. Postoperatively, the animals were topically given one drop of dexamethasone (1%) daily in their operated eye. The animals where sacrificed after one month . The anterior segments of the eyes where fixed for 4 hours in perfomaldehyde (4%) and then cryosectioned.
Results: :
After 1 month, one or two clusters of green fluorescent cells could be seen in the corneal epithelium of the host. The clusters of green cells had moved 5 to 6 mm from the limbal area towards the center of the host cornea. They were separated from the limbal transplant and in some sections green epithelial cells could be seen in absence of any limbal transplant
Conclusions: :
Rabbit corneal epithelial cells from an allogenic limbal transplant survive, surrounded by host epithelial cells. One month postoperatively the cells have moved from the transplant 5–6 mm towards the vertex of the cornea.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • cornea: basic science • wound healing