PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility to use hydroxyethylstarch as an alternative deswelling additive in short-term preservation media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corneoscleral discs were prepared from pairs of eye balls of freshly slaughtered pigs. Corneas were stored in MEM-medium containing either 10% or 20% hydroxyethylstarch 450 000 at 4 degrees C in a refrigerator. Subsequently, the tissue was stored for 24 hours in organ culture at 37 degrees C in MEM-medium containing 10% fetal calf serum to detect latent endothelial cell damage. Mate corneas were treated the same except for being stored in Optisol GS during 4 degrees C storage. We determined corneal endothelial cell density, stromal thickness, and glucose concentration in the medium directly after preparation, after short-term storage at 4 degrees C, and after subsequent organ culture at 37 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy of corneal endothelium was performed at each step during the experimental course. RESULTS: We did not observe any significant differences in endothelial-cell density between experimental groups and control groups. No decrease in endothelial-cell density was observed during the course of experiments. No increase in stromal thickness was determined in any group after short-term storage at 4 degrees C. Corneas stored in medium containing 20% hydroxyethylstarch showed a decrease in stromal thickness after short-term storage. After subsequent organ culture all corneas displayed a uniform stromal swelling. Glucose concentrations in the media decreased in all groups during the experiment. In scanning-electron microscopy we observed a reversible degeneration of cell borders after storage at 4 degrees C. Additionally, corneas stored in Optisol GS showed a reversible cobblestone appearance at this stage of the experiments. CONCLUSION: Hydroxyethylstarch appears to be an alternative to the use of dextran and chondroitin sulfate as a deswelling additive in corneal preservation media.
PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility to use hydroxyethylstarch as an alternative deswelling additive in short-term preservation media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corneoscleral discs were prepared from pairs of eye balls of freshly slaughtered pigs. Corneas were stored in MEM-medium containing either 10% or 20% hydroxyethylstarch 450 000 at 4 degrees C in a refrigerator. Subsequently, the tissue was stored for 24 hours in organ culture at 37 degrees C in MEM-medium containing 10% fetal calf serum to detect latent endothelial cell damage. Mate corneas were treated the same except for being stored in Optisol GS during 4 degrees C storage. We determined corneal endothelial cell density, stromal thickness, and glucose concentration in the medium directly after preparation, after short-term storage at 4 degrees C, and after subsequent organ culture at 37 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy of corneal endothelium was performed at each step during the experimental course. RESULTS: We did not observe any significant differences in endothelial-cell density between experimental groups and control groups. No decrease in endothelial-cell density was observed during the course of experiments. No increase in stromal thickness was determined in any group after short-term storage at 4 degrees C. Corneas stored in medium containing 20% hydroxyethylstarch showed a decrease in stromal thickness after short-term storage. After subsequent organ culture all corneas displayed a uniform stromal swelling. Glucose concentrations in the media decreased in all groups during the experiment. In scanning-electron microscopy we observed a reversible degeneration of cell borders after storage at 4 degrees C. Additionally, corneas stored in Optisol GS showed a reversible cobblestone appearance at this stage of the experiments. CONCLUSION:Hydroxyethylstarch appears to be an alternative to the use of dextran and chondroitin sulfate as a deswelling additive in corneal preservation media.