Article
HES as continious supplement for organ-culture medium of human corneas?
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Published: | September 22, 2004 |
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Outline
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Objective
During organ-culture corneas swell and have to be deswollen prior to transplantation, usually by a medium containing a deswelling substance. Both swelling and deswelling lead to an increased endothelial cell loss. Furthermore, Dextran, the standard deswelling substance is toxic and deposited in the cornea. In recent studies non-toxic HES has shown to be as good as Dextran in dehydrating corneas. Wether HES is suitable as a continious supplement for organ culture and keeps the corneas thin, is the aim of this study.
Methods
30 human corneas were stored in MEM plus 7.5% HES 130 for 7, 15 and 21 days. Endothelial cell count was determined before and after organ-culture. After storage the watercontent as well as the adenosine phosphates were meassured.
Results
Water content was 82,29% after 7 days, 82,98% after 15 days and 81,15% after 21 days. The endothelial cell count decreased for 1,20% after 7 days, 0,60% after 15 days and 4,29% after 21 days. ATP after 7 days was 0,0784 μmol/g dry weight ,0,0905 μmol/g dry weight after 15 days and 0,0813μmol/g dry weight after 21 days.
Conclusions
The water content of corneas stored in HES containing medium remained constant even after 21days of organ-culture. Endothelial cell loss was less than in comparable studies using a standard medium containing 10% FCS, however ATP concentrations were worse. HES 130 keeps the corneas thin and can be used as a continious supplement. It faciliates the handling of corneas during organ-culture, making dehydration before transplantation unnecessary and thus also reducing potential stress factors for the cornea.