A Study of Human Scleral Permeability using Organ Culture

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To measure the scleral permeability according to the time and regional differences using organ-cultured scleral tissues. METHODS: After measuring hydration and cell viability, scleral permeability was measured using a Ussing apparatus and rhodamine-dextran polymers. Organ-cultured scleral tissues are incubated for 1, 2, and 3 days and its permeability was measured in each quadrant. RESULTS: There are no significant difference in hydration and viability between the organ-cultured sclera and fresh sclera. Increases in permeability are greater with the 10 kDa dextran than with the 40 or 70 kDa dextran, however the scleral permeability did not change significantly with time (p>0.05) nor with regional difference (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The scleral permeability decreased with increased molecular weight of tracers but did not change according to the time- and regional differences.