Morphology of the pig cornea in normal conditions and after incubation in a perfusion apparatus |
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| Authors: | O Camber C Rehbinder T Nikkila P Edman |
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| Institution: | The Department of Pharmaceutics, Biomedical Center, University of Uppsala, Pharmacia AB, National Veterinary Institute, and Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-75182 Uppsala, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | The fine structure of the pig cornea in normal conditions and after being used in a perfusion apparatus, for 4 h, is described. Earlier reports on the normal morphology of the pig cornea were partly not confirmed. Thus the number of cell layers in the epithelium was found to be 19-23 (a basal cell layer, 4–5 polyhedral cell layers and 14–17 squamous cell layers) compared to earlier reported 6–9 layers.The mean thickness of normal and perfused corneas were 722 μm and 752 μm respectively. Normal corneas had a hydration level of 77.2 % and after perfusion 78.5 %. The normal morphology and morphological changes due to exposure to perfusion were studied by light and electron microscopy. The differences observed between normal and perfused corneas have to be considered limited, and restricted mainly to the anterior squamous epithelium and the endothelium.Taken together our results indicate that the corneas used in the apparatus still had functional integrity. |
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| Keywords: | pig cornea in vitro perfusion corneal thickness corneal hydration corneal morphology |
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