title: In vivo laser confocal microscopic analysis of human corneal epithelial sheet cultured on amniotic membrane.
abstract: Corneal epithelial sheet cultured on amniotic membrane ex vivo has been developed for the treatment of severe ocular surface disorders. In this study, human corneal epithelial sheets cultured on amniotic membranes were analyzed using a laser scanning confocal microscope.
  
  
  
  Human corneal epithelial cells were cultured on four sheets of amniotic membrane, and they were examined layer by layer using the laser scanning confocal microscope.
  
  
  
  The superficial layer cells were mosaic in appearance. In the superficial layer, focal areas of slender and elongated cells were noted. In addition, highly reflective materials were noted. Basal epithelial cells of the corneal epithelium sheet at a slightly deeper plane displayed mosaic pattern with smaller cells. At a slightly deeper plane, the basement membrane of amnion showed relatively bright homogeneity.
  
  
  
  The laser scanning confocal microscope can examine the morphology of human corneal epithelial cells cultured on amniotic membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshita
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal