Open AccessStromal architecture and immune tolerance in additive corneal xenografts in rodents
Author(s) -
Quantock Andrew J.,
Sano Yoichiro,
Young Robert D.,
Kinoshita Shigeru
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0420
pISSN - 1395-3907
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0420.2005.00509.x
Subject(s) - stromal cell , medicine , ultrastructure , neovascularization , corneal neovascularization , stroma , corneal transplantation , immune system , pathology , cornea , ophthalmology , angiogenesis , immunohistochemistry , immunology , cancer research
. Purpose: To examine immune tolerance and corneal ultrastructure following additive corneal xenografts in rodents.Methods: We carried out surgical implantation of excised BALB/c mouse corneal tissue, either freshly isolated ( n = 6) or after storage at −20°C for 1 week ( n = 7), into the corneas of Wistar rats at approximately mid‐stromal depth. Corneal opacity and neovascularization were evaluated postoperatively, and stromal ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results: Corneal opacification and neovascularization in the weeks after surgery were less prevalent in grafts of frozen‐then‐thawed tissue than in grafts of fresh tissue. In a well tolerated frozen‐then‐thawed xenograft, the matrix architecture was normal throughout most of the recipient and donor tissue, but pronounced fibrillar disorganization was evident adjacent to Descemet's membrane.Conclusion: We attribute the improved tolerance of frozen‐then‐thawed xenografts over fresh xenografts to a reduced cellular immune response.