[Comparative studies of transplant reaction of differently preserved corneas in perforating keratoplasty of rat eyes].

We examined the healing process of transplanted rat corneas in relation to the swelling of the grafts. Rat corneas were stored parallel in Macrodex 6% (Knoll) and MK medium (McCarey and Kaufman) at 4 degrees C for 48 h and successively applied in penetrating keratoplasty. The healing process was investigated by observation with a slit lamp and histological methods. Graft swelling before transplantation did not influence the healing process. We concluded that decreased graft swelling is not paralleled by improved wound healing in rat corneas. This phenomenon confirms our previous observations of bovine corneas, that decreased water uptake in vitro is not paralleled by increased vitality of the corneas.