HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: iovs.08-3002v1 50/6/2742    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Patel, S. P. Articles by Bourne, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Patel, S. P. Articles by Bourne, W. M.

Corneal Endothelial Cell Proliferation: A Function of Cell Density

¹From the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts; and the ²Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

PURPOSE. To determine how stimuli that increase corneal endothelial cell proliferation of human corneas in culture relate to changes in endothelial cell density in the central and peripheral cornea.

METHODS. Human donor cadaver corneas not suitable for transplantation were divided into four pie-shaped wedges and incubated at 37°C in medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and gentamicin. To promote a proliferative response, samples were treated with EDTA at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 mM for 1 hour and then returned to culture medium. Endothelial cell proliferation was assayed with Ki-67 immunolocalization 48 and 96 hours after EDTA treatment. Samples were mounted with propidium iodide or DAPI. The total number of cells and the number of Ki-67–positive cells were counted in three regions, defined as central, mid, and peripheral cornea, to determine endothelial cell density and percentage of proliferation.

RESULTS. A proliferative response to EDTA was not found. However, increased proliferation was noted in the central compared with the peripheral corneal region. Unexpectedly, the increased proliferation in the central region corresponded to a trend of lower endothelial cell density in the central region compared with the peripheral region. Corneal endothelial cell proliferation under our culture conditions is noted primarily when cell density is less than 2000 cells/mm².

CONCLUSIONS. Corneal endothelial cell proliferation under our culture conditions does not lead to supranormal endothelial cell density. Rather, cell proliferation is noted in those regions that may be experiencing a greater burden of cell loss.