The anterior lens capsule used as support material in RPE cell-transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of an ocular basement membrane as support material for transplanted porcine RPE cells.


METHODS
Porcine RPE cells were grown on bovine corneal extracellular matrix (ECM), isolated bovine- and porcine lens capsules, and tissue culture plastic. Cell density, and cell morphology were studied by phase contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
RPE cells grown on porcine anterior lens capsule and on ECM obtained better morphology and higher final cell density than cells grown on plastic and on bovine anterior lens capsule. It was possible to transplant the porcine anterior lens capsule to the subretinal space in pigs. Within two weeks of observation, the lens capsule was well tolerated in the subretinal space.


CONCLUSIONS
The anterior lens capsule seems to be promising as support material for use in RPE cell-transplantation.
Nicolini
J
J
Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kiilgaard
J F
JF
Wiencke
A K
AK
Heegaard
S
S
Scherfig
E
E
Prause
J U
JU
la Cour
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000166:cytology; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology*; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology*; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013552:Swine