title: In vivo confocal microscopic observation of lamellar corneal transplantation in the rabbit using xenogenic acellular corneal scaffolds as a substitute.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The limiting factor to corneal transplantation is the availability of donors. Research has suggested that xenogenic acellular corneal scaffolds (XACS) may be a possible alternative to transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the viability of performing lamellar corneal transplantation (LCT) in rabbits using canine XACS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh dog corneas were decellularized by serial digestion, and LCT was performed on rabbit eyes using xenogeneic decellularized corneal matrix. Cellular and morphological changes were observed by slit-lamp, light, and scanning electron microscopy at 7, 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Immunocytochemical staining for specific markers such as keratin 3, vimentin and MUC5AC, was used to identify cells in the graft.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decellularized xenogenic corneal matrix remained transparent for about 1-month after LCT. The recipient cells were able to survive and proliferate into the grafts. Three months after transplantation, grafts had merged with host tissue, and graft epithelialization and vascularization had occurred. Corneal nerve fibers were able to grow into the graft in rabbits transplanted with XACS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xenogenic acellular corneal scaffolds can maintain the transparency of corneal grafts about 1-month and permit growth of cells and nerve fibers, and is, therefore, a potential substitute or carrier for a replacement cornea.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University Eye Center, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering
references.citation: Cornea. 2011 Jan;30(1):73-82
references.pmid: 20861730
references.citation: Cornea. 2000 May;19(3):355-63
references.pmid: 10832699
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000 Jun;41(7):1827-32
references.pmid: 10845605
references.citation: Cornea. 2000 Jul;19(4):421-6
references.pmid: 10928750
references.citation: J Biomed Mater Res. 2000;53(6):617-20
references.pmid: 11074418
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 Jan;44(1):175-82
references.pmid: 12506072
references.citation: Cornea. 2004 Jul;23(5):524-6
references.pmid: 15220741
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 1991 Jun;87(6):1080-8
references.pmid: 2034728
references.citation: Clin Transplant. 1994 Apr;8(2 Pt 2):155-9
references.pmid: 7912570
references.citation: Annu Rev Med. 1995;46:345-60
references.pmid: 7598469
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997 May;38(6):1130-8
references.pmid: 9152232
references.citation: Annu Rev Immunol. 1998;16:433-70
references.pmid: 9597137
references.citation: Burns. 1998 Mar;24(2):104-13
references.pmid: 9625233
references.citation: Biomaterials. 2005 Sep;26(27):5500-8
references.pmid: 15860206
references.citation: Tissue Eng. 2006 Aug;12(8):2355-65
references.pmid: 16968175
references.citation: Urology. 2006 Oct;68(4):892-7
references.pmid: 17070388
references.citation: Mol Vis. 2008;14:2180-9
references.pmid: 19052652
references.citation: Cells Tissues Organs. 2010;191(3):193-202
references.pmid: 19690400
references.citation: Biomaterials. 2010 May;31(14):3941-8
references.pmid: 20163852
references.citation: Biomaterials. 2010 Oct;31(28):7257-65
references.pmid: 20598368