The Changes of Ultrastructure and Function of the Corneal Endothelial Cell Caused by the New Irrigating Solution(HR solution)

Kim, Ki San; Kim, Yu Cheol

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate alterations in corneal endothelial cell function and ultrastructure followed by perfusion with HR solution which is a newly developed irrigating solution in Korea. After paired rabbit corneas were mounted in the in-vitro dual-chambered specular microscope and perfused with glutathione-bicarbonate-Ringer solution(GBR)for one hour, one cornea of the pair was perfused with HR and the other cornea was perfused with BSS(r), BSS Plus(r)or IOCARE(r)solution. Corneal thickness was measured every 15 minutes throughout the perfusion period. Swelling rates were calculated by linear regression analysis. At the end of perfusion, the corneas were fixed in 2.5%glutaraldehyde solution for transmission electron microscopy(TEM)or fixed in mixed solution of 0.5% glutaraldehyde and 0.5% paraformaldehyde for scanning electron microscopy(SEM). In another experiment, corneal endothelial permeability was measured. Swelling rates of rabbit corneas perfused with HR or BSS(r)were 5.57+/-0.97 micrometer/hr and 6.45+/0.74 micrometer/hr respectively(p>0.05), and swelling rates when perfusing with HR or IOCARE(r)were 7.87+/-0.45 micrometer/hr and 7.25+/-0.32 micrometer/hr respectively(p>0.05). Swelling rate of rabbit corneas perfused with BSS Plus(r) was 3.88+/-1.34 micrometer/hr that is lower than that of HR(5.35+/-0.69 micrometer/hr), but the difference is not significant statistically(p>0.05). The endothelial permeability of the cornea perfused with BSS(r) or HR were 2.97+/-0.23x10(-4)cm/min and 3.01+/-0.1 5x10(-4)cm/min respectively which showed no significant differences between the two(p>0.1). TEM and SEM of corneas perfused with HR showed endothelial cells with normal organelles, like with BSS(r) and BSS Plus(r). The results of this study indicate that HR solution maintain the function of corneal endothelium.