Research For Medium-term Preservation Of Corneal Tissues With Whole-eye

Objective: To explore the new preservation method of cornea by evaluating the structure and function of rabbit's endothelia on the condition of whole-eye preservation with aqueous removed and recipient's serum tamponaded. Methods: comparing the vitality of endothelial cell (number:136) on the condition of tow corneal preservation methods which are the moist chamber preservation (group A, number:68) and the whole-eye preservation with aqueous removed and recipient's serum tamponaded (group B,number:68).The vitality of endothelial cell was appraised through transparency, pachometry, scanning electronic microscopy and endothelial vital staining. To verify the vitality of the corneal endothelium ,the allogenic corneal transplantation was performed. Result: Through the whole-eye preservation with aqueous removed and recipient's serum tamponaded, the corneas remained transparent for 7 days, and the rate of vitality was 90%for 7 days and that was over 80%for 10 days. By contrast, through the moist chamber preservation, the corneas remained transparent for 2 days. The endothelial cell losing and dying were found after 7 days. Significant difference was found between group A and group B at the same time on endothelial cell density, dimension and pachometry(p< 0.05). Between group A for 2 days and group B for 7 days, the endothelial cell density and dimension were not different (p> 0.05). The corneas which were preserved in group A for 7 days keep endematous and cloudy after allogenic corneal transplantation (number:8). The corneas which were preserved in group B for 7 days remain clear after graft(number:8); the endothelial cell count had been 3201±100.08 mm2 before graft,60 days later, it was 2631±171.01mm2 ,the configuration was changing from irregular shape to normal shape. Conclusion: The structure and function of the endothelial cell are normal after whole-eye preservation with aqueous removed and recipient's serum tamponaded for 10 days. The preservation method of group B is longer than that of group A. It is possible that the new method which is very cheap and convenient can be develop for human being.