Oxygen permeability of amniotic membrane and actual tear oxygen tension beneath amniotic membrane patch.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the oxygen permeability (Dk) and oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t) of amniotic membrane (AM), and tear oxygen tension beneath AM in rabbits.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
The water content of AM was measured to calculate Dk and Dk/t, and compared with those of a therapeutic soft contact lens (TSCL). The tear oxygen tension beneath AM and TSCL was also measured in four male albino rabbits.


RESULTS
The average water content of AM was significantly higher than that of TSCL (96.8 +/- 0.8% (mean +/- SD) vs 78%, P =.0006), giving rise to a significantly higher Dk and Dk/t in AM as compared with TSCL (142.8 +/- 4.7 vs 65.3, respectively, P =.0012, and 92.9 +/- 3.0 vs 29.7, respectively, P =.0008). The average tear oxygen tension under AM was also higher than TSCL (94.9 +/- 2.9 vs 59.1 +/- 4.9 mm Hg, P =.0006).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the rationale of using AM as a superior bandage in treating persistent corneal epithelial defects or ulcers.
Yoshita
Tsuyoshi
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa-prefecture 920-8641, Japan.
Kobayashi
Akira
A
Sugiyama
Kazuhisa
K
Tseng
Scheffer C G
SC
D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001684:Biological Dressings; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010539:Permeability; D011817:Rabbits; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
D010100:Oxygen