Dextran uptake into, and loss from, corneas stored in intermediate-term preservative

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Transplantation
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Corneal storage media are crucial for preserving donor tissue viability before transplantation.
• Understanding the interaction between storage solutions and corneal tissue is essential for optimizing outcomes.
• Dextran is a common component in corneal storage media, but its corneal penetration and subsequent removal are not fully characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the penetration of dextran into rabbit corneas during storage in M-K medium.
• To quantify the rate of dextran efflux from the cornea after corneal transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Rabbit corneas were stored in M-K medium containing dextran.
• Corneal tissue was analyzed to determine dextran concentration over time.
• Post-transplantation dextran levels were monitored over a 12-hour period.

Main Results:

• Dextran equilibrium between the cornea and M-K medium was achieved at approximately 24 hours.
• Following corneal transplantation, rapid dextran efflux was observed.
• 70-75% of corneal dextran was lost within 1-3 hours, with 99% eliminated in 12 hours.

Conclusions:

• Dextran penetrates rabbit corneas during M-K medium storage.
• The cornea efficiently eliminates dextran post-transplantation, suggesting minimal long-term impact.
• These findings support the use of dextran-containing media for corneal preservation.