Chondroitin sulfate for corneal preservation at 4 degrees C. Evaluation by electron microscopy

Arch Ophthalmol. 1986 Sep;104(9):1358-61. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1986.01050210112035.

Abstract

We tested three new corneal preservation media in which the dextran in McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium was replaced by three preparations of chondroitin sulfate (CS): 1.5% CS, 5.0% CS, and 2.0% modified CS (K-Sol). One cornea from each of 36 pairs of corneas was placed in M-K medium and the opposite cornea was placed in one of the CS media. Endothelial preservation was evaluated by electron microscopy after storage at 4 degrees C for 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days. We judged cellular preservation in a masked manner from the electron micrographs according to a morphologic grading system. Preservation in 1.5% CS solution was similar to that in M-K medium. Both 5.0% CS and K-Sol gave better endothelial preservation than M-K medium. The best preservation appeared to be in K-Sol, in which only 3% of the endothelial cells were disrupted after 14 days of storage at 4 degrees C.

MeSH terms

  • Chondroitin Sulfates*
  • Chondroitin* / analogs & derivatives
  • Cornea* / ultrastructure
  • Corneal Transplantation
  • Endothelium / ultrastructure
  • Freezing
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Solutions
  • Tissue Preservation / methods*

Substances

  • Solutions
  • Chondroitin
  • Chondroitin Sulfates