title: Ex vivo growth of rabbit bulbar, fornix and palpebral conjunctival epithelia in a serum-free and feeder layer-free culture system.
abstract: This study was conducted to explore the feasibility of culturing conjunctiva epithelial cells in serum-free and feeder layer-free culture system with regard to the cell morphology and immunocytochemistry of the rabbit bulbar, fornix and palpebral conjunctiva epithelia. The results showed that epithelium cells from all the three conjunctiva regions can be cultured in a serum-free and feeder layer-free environment. We obtained highest epithelial growth from fornix region with minimum invasion of fibroblast cells compared to other area. All cultured cells were stained positive for cytokeratin 19 and MUC5AC and negative for cytokeratin 3. These findings suggested that fornix was a better source of cells for the development of tissue engineered conjunctiva for future clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.
authors.forename: M H Hairul
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nizam
authors.forename: B H I
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ruszymah
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ghafar
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hamzah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D007633:Keratins; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins