The Effect of Minor Components and Growth Factor Added to Corneal Storage Medium on the Viability of Corneal Endothelium

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study has been conducted to evaluate morphologic and functional changes of cat corneal endothelium preserved in Likorol , locally prepared medium and locally prepared medium with growth factor, respectively. METHODS: To know the morphologic change of the dornea, cat corneal endothelia stored in three different medium are examined by specular microscopy and the change of central corneal thickness was measured by light microscopy from the distance of between epithelum and endothelium. We also examined the corneal endothelium of each group by scanning electronmicroscopy. To know the functional change of the cornea, alkaline phosphatase released to each preservation medium was measured with biochemical analyzer. RESULTS: The change of corneal thickness was remarkable in locally prepared medium (group LL)up to 4 days of preservation and specular microscopic change of endothelial cell density, polymegathism and pleomorphism was significantly notable in locally prepared medium (group LL). The morphologic change examined by scanning electron microscopy was significantly notable in locally prepared medium with growth factor (group LLG). The alkaline phosphatase activity at the 6th preservation day was higher in locally prepared medium with growth factor (group LLG) than in Likorol (group L). CONCLUSIONS: The viability of corneal endothelium in corneal storage medium with minor components and growth factor is significantly higher than that without minor components and growth factor.