[Organotypic culture of the rabbit cornea. Evaluation of its morphologic criteria].

Abstract

A report of a study on the cellular and tissue morphology of organotypic cultures of rabbit cornea using a method conforming to physiological conditions. The results demonstrate that in the first few hours there exist structural changes in the tissues as well as on ordinary histology, scanning and electron microscopy. These affect the endothelium primarily, whereas the keratocytes and epithelium seem to be more resistant, the latter having the tendency to invade the surfaces of the explant and to transform itself into fibroblastic cells. Certain reservations should therefore be expressed about the use of these explants, whether they are intended to preserve pathological corneas of different origin, or to be used in transplants.