| Minimal Requirement of Limbal Epithelium for Successful Limbal Cell Transplantation in Rabbit Corneas. |
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Yoo Ri Yang, Nam Young Choi, Jin Hyung Kim, Man Soo Kim |
1Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
2Department of Ophthalmology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
3Department of Ophthalmology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mskim@cmc.cuk.ac.kr |
| 가토 각막에서 자가 윤부이식 시 성공을 위한 최소 윤부 양에 대한 연구 |
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양유리1,최남영1,김진형2,김만수3 |
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Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul Veterans Hospital1, Seoul, Korea Department of Ophthalmology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine2, Goyang, Korea Department of Ophthalmology, Kangnam St. Mary`s Hospital, Catholic University College of Medicine3, Seoul, Korea |
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Correspondence:
Yoo Ri Yang M.D.1 |
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| Abstract |
PURPOSE
To investigate the minimal requirements of the limbal epithelium for successful limbal stem cell transplantation and the healing process. METHODS: Nine rabbits were divided into 4, 6, and 8 clock-hour transplantation groups. Limbal autografts from the healthy fellow eye were transplanted to the iatrogenic damaged eye. The amniotic membrane served as a stem cell niche. Experimental corneas were evaluated by slit lamp examination and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the over 9 hours transplantation group, the healing process of the epithelium from the limbal stem cell was revealed and cornea-specific keratin k3, transcription factor p63, and connexin 43 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The normal corneal epithelium was regenerated after 60 days postoperatively in the fellow donor eye. CONCLUSIONS: Limbal cell transplantation of over 9 hours seems to be a safe and effective method in the treatment of severe ocular surface disorders. In addition, the donation of limbal epithelium for up to 8 hours did not affect the normal corneal regenerating capability. |
| Key Words:
Corneal epithelial stem cell;Limbal cell transplantation |
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