Transplantation of allogenic anterior lens capsule to the subretinal space in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the consequences of transplantation of a new basement membrane to the subretinal space (SRS) as a substitution of Bruch's membrane.


METHODS
Porcine anterior lens capsules (ALC) were transplanted to the subretinal space of 20 eyes from 19 young Danish landrace pigs. All pigs underwent a three port localized pars plana vitrectomy. Seventeen eyes received naked ALC. In three experiments the ALC was embedded in gelatine, in order to prevent curling of the ALC. The observation period varied between zero and 49 days. The pigs were examined by ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography. Histopathological examination of enucleated eyes was performed at the end of the experiment.


RESULTS
ALCs transplanted to the subretinal space were well-tolerated and caused no inflammation when Bruch's membrane was left undamaged. After 11 days host RPE and glial cells started to cover the ALC in a competitive fashion. When Bruch's membrane was damaged, ingrowths of choroidal vessels and fibroblasts was prominent. The use of gelatine to flatten the ALC did not prevent curling, and gelatine caused pronounced inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to transplant porcine ALC to the SRS of the pig. ALCs are well-tolerated in the SRS and are covered with well-differentiated monolayers of host RPE-cells, if Bruch's membrane is left intact.
Kiilgaard
Jens Folke
JF
Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. JFK@dadlnet.dk
Wiencke
Anne Katrine
AK
Scherfig
Erik
E
Prause
Jan Ulrik
JU
la Cour
Morten
M
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment; D005110:Extracellular Space; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010781:Photography; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014821:Vitrectomy