Light microscopic evaluation of human donor corneal stroma during organ culture.
OBJECTIVE
To try to facilitate evaluation of corneal stroma during organ culture by means of light microscopy.


METHODS
Corneal stroma of 53 consecutive organ-cultured corneas was studied by means of light microscopy during endothelial quality control. Out of 9 corneas with bad stromal evaluation, 2 were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy, and 7 were grafted. From the remaining 44 corneas with a normal light microscopic appearance, 35 were grafted.


RESULTS
Stromal abnormalities consisted of bright visible structures with a cell-like shape corresponding to keratocyte injuries (i.e. cellular edema, light and dark vacuoles, cell membrane disruption and, finally, internal cytolysis) as observed by TEM. At 3 months postoperatively no clinical differences between the two groups of transplants were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal stroma can be evaluated qualitatively and easily by means of light microscopy during organ culture. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the presence of lysed keratocytes in the graft's stroma actually influences the outcome of transplantation.
Borderie
V
V
Banque de Cornées Saint Antoine, Etablissement de Transfusion Sanguine de l'AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris, France.
Martinache
C
C
Sabolic
V
V
Touzeau
O
O
Laroche
L
L
D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome