BACKGROUND: To investigate the influence of transport on the quality of corneas in organ culture, based on the vitality of the corneal endothelium. METHODS: Transport was simulated for 222 porcine corneal disks. These were placed in standard transportation containers filled with organ culture medium II, kept in an incubator and then shaken on a laboratory shaker. RESULTS: Agitated corneas at all acceleration rates always showed less endothelial cell damage than corneas kept motionless. The best condition was found after maximum accelerations of 0.10 g and 0.72 g. Damage consisted predominantly of disseminated cell loss and circular cell damage. A storage temperature of 37 degrees C caused most harm to the endothelium. CONCLUSION: The reduction in endothelial damage found in corneas after agitation can be attributed to a better distribution of nutrients in the transportation container. Assuming transferability, a better quality of human grafts can be achieved by inducing slight motions of corneas in organ culture.
BACKGROUND: To investigate the influence of transport on the quality of corneas in organ culture, based on the vitality of the corneal endothelium. METHODS: Transport was simulated for 222 porcine corneal disks. These were placed in standard transportation containers filled with organ culture medium II, kept in an incubator and then shaken on a laboratory shaker. RESULTS: Agitated corneas at all acceleration rates always showed less endothelial cell damage than corneas kept motionless. The best condition was found after maximum accelerations of 0.10 g and 0.72 g. Damage consisted predominantly of disseminated cell loss and circular cell damage. A storage temperature of 37 degrees C caused most harm to the endothelium. CONCLUSION: The reduction in endothelial damage found in corneas after agitation can be attributed to a better distribution of nutrients in the transportation container. Assuming transferability, a better quality of human grafts can be achieved by inducing slight motions of corneas in organ culture.