Eurosol versus fetal bovine serum-containing corneal storage medium.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usability of Eurosol, a new medium-term corneal storage medium without components of bovine origin.


METHODS
Ten pairs of human donor corneas were placed in tissue culture at 31 degrees C for 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 days. One cornea of each pair was cultivated in conventional storage medium on Earls' minimum essential medium base containing 2% fetal bovine serum; the other one was stored in Eurosol. Corneas were examined with inverse light microscopy; corneal thickness was measured; and scanning electron microscopy was performed.


RESULTS
No significant difference in corneal thickness and endothelial cell count was found at any time. Scanning electron microscopy showed a complete endothelial cell layer on all corneas. CONCLUSION. The findings indicate a potential clinical applicability of the tested serum-free medium-term storage medium, offering a safer alternative to conventional media containing fetal bovine serum.
Landesklinik fuer Augenheilkunde und Optometrie, Landeskliniken Salzburg, Austria. j.stoiber@lks.at
J
J
Stoiber
J
J
Ruckhofer
A
A
Lametschwandtner
W
W
Muss
W
W
Hitzl
K
K
Weikinger
G
G
Grabner
D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free