EFFECT OF SHAKING ON CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL PRESERVATION

Purpose. To investigate the effect of shaking on corneal endothelial p reservation. Methods. Thirty-six dog corneal buttons were obtained und er standard eye bank procedure, after the animals had been sacrificed for cardiovascular experiments in the surgical depart ment. They were equally divided into two groups. In Group I, buttons were put in Dexso l preservative medium and preserved at 4 degrees C. In Group II, butto ns were put in Dexsol preservative medium and shaken in a shaking incu bator at a speed of 5 rpm. at 4 degrees C for 10 h. After shaking, the y were returned to a 4 degrees C refrigerator until examination. Three buttons from each group underwent specular microscopy, scanning elect ron microscopy (SEM), and alizarin red with trypan blue stain examinat ions on days O, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, respectively. Results. In Group I, i ntercellular borders became blurred under specular microscopy, beginni ng on day 5. However, endothelial cell count did not change significan tly until day 9. Intercellular digitations and wrinkling of intercellu lar borders were seen under alizarin red with trypan blue stain and SE M examination, beginning on day 3. Pleomorphism and ill-defined interc ellular junctions were seen under SEM on day 7. There was no obvious d enudement of the endothelial sheet, but a few scattered exfoliations w ere seen in Group I. In Group II, endothelial cell count did not decre ase on day 1, but an endothelial image could not be obtained by specul ar microscopy 3 days after treatment. Alizarin red with trypan blue st ain and SEM examination revealed that the endothelial cells were denud ed from the Descemet's membrane three days after shaking. Severe strom al edema was seen under SEM five days after shaking. Conclusions. The results showed that shaking had a detrimental effect on endothelial ce ll preservation. Vigorous shaking should be avoided during transportat ion of corneal buttons. It is advisable to perform penetrating keratop lasty as soon as possible upon receiving transported donor corneas.