Langerhans cells in organ-cultured corneas

We examined the effect of corneal preservation in organ culture at 34 degrees C on Langerhans cells in murine and human corneas. The presence of Langerhans cells was demonstrated by an adenosine triphosphatase stain. Langerhans cells were identified on fresh corneas and on corneas that had been in organ culture for one week or less. However, Langerhans cells were not found on most corneas after the second to third week in culture. The absence of Langerhans cells was found to be directly related to the condition of the corneal epithelium. During the second and occasionally as late as the third week in culture, the superficial layers of epithelium are sloughed. Examination of the corneas lacking Langerhans cells disclosed Langerhans cells in the sloughed epithelium. The results demonstrate that most corneas preserved in organ culture at 34 degrees C do not contain Langerhans cells at the time of transplantation.