Migration of rabbit corneal endothelial cells on vitreous strands. An organ culture experiment.
Anterior vitreous synechia, sometimes seen as a complication after anterior segment surgery, has been mimicked in organ culture experiments. A specimen consisting of a cornea with a vitreous strand adhering to the posterior surface has been kept in culture medium for 6 and 12 days. Migration of corneal endothelial cells onto the surface of the vitreous strand started after 6 days, and the surface of the strand was partly or almost totally covered by corneal endothelium after 12 days. At this stage the cells were elongated and directed along the strand. In clinical situations a vitreous strand adhering to the cornea may exert traction on the retina. This traction may be caused by contraction of actin filaments in endothelial cells covering the strand. This experimental model may be used in attempts to modify the behaviour of the cells by pharmacological manipulation.
Medin
H
H
University Eye Department, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway.
Davanger
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011817:Rabbits; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure