Air toxicity on human corneal endothelial and trabecular meshwork cells during corneal surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Surgical I

Session Date/Time: Monday 15/09/2014 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:00

Venue: Boulevard B

First Author: : N.Kopsachilis UK

Co Author(s): :    M. Tsatsos   G. Carifi   D. Parmar   U. Welge Luessen     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the possible toxic effect of air exposure for an in vitro model of primary human corneal endothelial cells HCE and trabecular meshwork cells (HTM).

Setting:

University of Erlangen - Nuremberg Moorfields Eye Hospital

Methods:

HCE and HTM were isolated from 12 human donor corneal rings and cultivated at 37°C . Six groups of HCE and HTM cultures were set up and exposed to air from 30 minutes up to 24 hours.

Results:

HCE: At 3 hours after exposure, the morphology of the cells was still intact however a few cells within the monolayer appeared enlarged. At 6 hours the endothelial cells started losing their typical hexagonal morphology and appeared compromised. Viability was superior to 95% in groups exposed to air up to 3 hours and 71%, 22,4% and 6,3% for groups exposed 6, 12 and 24 hours respectively. HTM: : At 3 hours, the morphology of the cells was still intact At 6 hours few cells exhibited characteristics of more senescent cells. At 12 hours the cells started losing their typical morphology and appeared enlarged and compromised. Viability was superior to 94% in groups exposed to air up to 3 hours and 82.7%, 39.5 % and 12.7 % for groups exposed 6, 12 and 24 hours respectively.

Conclusions:

The present study illustrates that the toxic effect of air exposure for the studied in vitro model of HCE and HTM is not significant for the time period of three hours while it turns to induce major apoptotic mechanisms leading to reduced viability until the time period of 24 hours where the percentage of living cells is drastically decreased.

Financial Interest:

NONE