[Primary research about reconstruction of cornea in three-dimensional collagen gel in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To research the reconstruction of cornea in three-dimensional culture.


METHODS
Using primary cultured corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells and endothelial cells rebuilt a corneal structure in three-dimensional collagen gel reconstruction system. The artificial corneal transparency was examined by a slit-lamp microscope. The biological characters of cells were tested by routine pathologic and transmission electron microscopic technology.


RESULTS
The reconstructed corneal tissue formed three layers. The epithelial cell layer was two or three cell thickness. The endothelial cells formed a single layer. The stromal cells were diffuse in distribution in the collagen gel. The cells had proliferative ability and capability of producing collagen.


CONCLUSIONS
The regular and transparent corneal structure can be rebuilt by tissue engineering technology.
Chen
J
J
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Zhang
S
S
Guo
L
L
Zheng
H
H
Lin
J
J
Zheng
J
J
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D003094:Collagen