title: Viability of human corneal keratocytes during organ culture.
abstract: The viability of human corneal keratocytes was assessed during four weeks of 'closed system' organ culture at 31 degrees C. After 28 days of culturing, the entire keratocyte population was still alive and viable because all cells incorporated uridine; a parameter for RNA-synthesis. During the first 14 days, mitoses were found in the anterior half of the stroma (0.23% mitoses per 48 h), while only few keratocytes were able to divide at day 28 (0.01% mitoses per 48 h). Metabolic parameters revealed a progressing acidosis in the medium with oxygen and glucose depletion. Immunological measurements of keratan sulphate proteoglycan suggested that approximately 1% of the total content was lost during the period. In conclusion, our current organ culture technique can maintain a viable keratocyte population for four weeks; a viable stroma can be grafted within this period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Arhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Møller-Pedersen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001345:Autoradiography; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007632:Keratan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000071234:Lumican; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; C000604306:LUM protein, human; D000071234:Lumican; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D007632:Keratan Sulfate; D005947:Glucose