Corneal endothelium under various storage conditions

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Corneal storage is crucial for transplantation success.
• Evaluating different storage media is essential for preserving endothelial cell viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium, rabbit serum, and moist chamber storage for rabbit corneas.
• To assess endothelial cell viability and corneal integrity under different storage conditions and temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Rabbit corneas were stored at 4°C in M-K medium, rabbit serum, and a moist chamber.
• Corneas were also incubated at 37°C in M-K medium, serum, and Minimal Essential Medium (MEM) with additives.
• Endothelial cell morphology, microvilli preservation, and corneal swelling were evaluated over time.

Main Results:

• At 4°C, M-K medium and rabbit serum maintained endothelial viability up to six days, with serum showing better microvilli preservation.
• Moist chamber storage led to endothelial damage after 48 hours at 4°C.
• At 37°C, serum caused rapid endothelial destruction and corneal swelling; M-K medium maintained viability up to six days, while MEM showed greater cell destruction after six days.

Conclusions:

• McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium provides superior corneal endothelial cell preservation compared to rabbit serum and moist chambers at 4°C for up to six days.
• M-K medium is a suitable storage solution for short-term corneal preservation, maintaining endothelial integrity better than MEM at 37°C.
• Further research into optimizing storage media and conditions is warranted to improve long-term corneal graft survival.