Ex vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy on eye bank corneas and corneal metabolic health.
BACKGROUND
Since a potential exists for untoward effects on the cornea from the high magnetic fields and radio-frequency energies, and the further manipulation required for phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS), we determined the effects of this technology on tissues using paired human corneas (n = 4) meeting criteria acceptable for transplantation.


METHODS
Slit-lamp biomicroscopy, pachometry, specular microscopy, and redux fluorophotometry were performed on all corneas. One cornea of each pair was examined (< 30 min) by 31P-MRS. Following 31P-MRS, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, pachometry, and redox fluorophotometry were again performed.


RESULTS
Data tabulated included the 31P energy modulus (1.37 +/- 0.28), the ATP/Pi (2.92 +/- 0.59) and SP/Pi (0.76 +/- 0.04) ratios, and the intracorneal pH (7.24 +/- 0.09).


CONCLUSIONS
Since there were no significant differences in slit-lamp biomicroscopy, endothelial density and morphometry, cell counts, and pachometric and redox fluorophotometric measurements between corneas of each pair before and after 31P-MRS analysis, it was concluded that there was no detectable metabolic damage secondary to such analysis. This study suggests that MRS analysis of human eye-bank tissues does not damage the cornea metabolically and may provide a practical evaluation of the health of the cornea at the biochemical level.
Greiner
J V
JV
Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Glonek
T
T
Lass
J H
JH
Tsubota
K
K
Kenyon
K R
KR
Shimazaki
J
J
Meneses
P
P
Hirokawa
K
K
Merchant
T E
TE
Hearn
S L
SL
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D005125:Eye Banks; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes
D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D010758:Phosphorus; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate