A new storage solution for the hypothermic preservation of corneal grafts: an experimental study
- 25 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Cell and Tissue Banking
- Vol. 21 (3), 507-521
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-020-09838-z
Abstract
In this experimental study we used for the first time Tiprotec® as a solution for corneal preservation and cold storage. We compared the resultant endothelial cell morphology and viability with this obtained after preservation of the ex-vivo corneas with both usual standard techniques: conventional cold storage (using Eusol-C) and organ culture. This prospective, in vitro, 3-armed parallel study was performed with the use of 90 porcine corneas (examined for their endothelial quality and transparency) randomly selected for preservation in three storage methods (each 30 corneas): organ culture, standard cold storage (Eusol-C) and experimental cold storage (Tiprotec®) Endothelium cell quantity and quality as well as corneal opacification were assessed. The degree of endothelial transparency was significantly reduced over time with all preservation media, without any significant difference among the three groups at any point of time. A reduction in endothelial cell density was also observed with all three preservation media after 30 days of storage without statistically significant differences between groups. The number of hexagonal and pentagonal endothelium cells was significantly reduced overtime in all media with significantly more hexagonal and pentagonal in the organ culture group compared to the cold storage groups. We could show that the cryopreservation medium Tiprotec®, used until now for the preservation of vascular grafts, was of similar quality compared to the medium Eusol-C for the hypothermic storage of corneal tissue for an extended period of time up to 30 days. In comparison to organic culture with culture medium KII, both Tiprotec® and Eusol-C were found less effective in preserving endothelial cell quality, as assessed by the morphometric analysis, and viability, as assessed by the degree of vacuolization at least up to the 30th day of storage. However, both, Tiprotec®- and Eusol-C-preserved corneas demonstrated a certain capacity to recover after their submission in organ culture.Keywords
Funding Information
- Dr. Koehler Chemie
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Donor cornea transfer from Optisol GS to organ culture storage: a two‐step procedure to increase donor tissue lifespanActa Ophthalmologica, 2012
- Proliferative capacity of corneal endothelial cellsExperimental Eye Research, 2012
- Molecular mechanisms underlying the corneal endothelial pumpExperimental Eye Research, 2012
- Turning the tide of corneal blindnessIndian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2012
- Pan-Corneal Endothelial Viability Assessment: Application to Endothelial Grafts Predissected by Eye BanksInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2011
- Endothelial Morphometry by Image Analysis of Corneas Organ Cultured at 31°CInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2010
- Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study Methods for Donor Endothelial Cell Density Determination of Cornea Donor Study ImagesCurrent Eye Research, 2006
- Controlled study of the influence of storage medium type on endothelial assessment during corneal organ cultureBritish Journal of Ophthalmology, 2004
- Hornhautepithelschädigung bei langer Transplantatverweildauer in dextranhaltigem Organkulturmedium - eine prospektive StudieKlinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde, 2002
- Mitochondrial dysfunction and cytoskeletal disruption during chemical hypoxia to cultured rat hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells: The pH paradox and cytoprotection by glucose, acidotic pH, and glycineHepatology, 1998