[Observation of corneal endothelial cells in modified mid-term preservation by scanning electronic microscope].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the ultramicroscopic structure of corneal endothelium in modified mid-term preservation.


METHODS
Eyes of 4 New Zealand rabbits were enucleated. The 4 right eyes and additional 6 human eyes (as experiment group) were treated as follows: Aqueous was drawn off and replaced with equal volume of C3F8 air, then the whole eye was preserved in wet chamber at 4 degrees C, with 2 rabbit eyes being preserved for 7 days. 1 for 10 days and 1 for 14 days, and 6 human eyes for 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days respectively. Corneas with 1 mm scleral ring of the 4 rabbit eyes (control group) were derived and preserved in Optisol nutrients at 4 degrees C for the same period of time. Corneas of all eyes were examined by scanning electronic microscope.


RESULTS
For rabbit eyes, slight edema was found in the cornea preserved for 7 days, and loss of surface microvilli and cell lysis were found in those preserved for 10 and 14 days. For human eyes, no significant change was found in cornea preserved for 7 days, and different changes were found in those preserved longer.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant change was found in cornea endothelium preserved by this method for 7 days.
Liu
H
H
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences Guangzhou, China.
Feng
C
C
Chen
J
J
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D014021:Tissue Preservation