Our objective was to evaluate corneal structural modifications induced
by corneal preservation in a C31 organ culture medium. Twenty-four po
stmortem human corneas preserved in C31 medium (CRTS, Besancon, France
) for 2-21 days and 12 fresh postmortem human corneas were studied and
evaluated by means of light microscopy, morphometry, and transmission
electron microscopy (TEM). Endothelial cell loss during preservation
averaged 9.2% (+/-7.2%). Endothelial morphology displayed significantl
y more moderate alterations in the group of fresh corneas than in the
group of preserved corneas. Endothelial morphometry resulted in a high
er coefficient of variation (p = 0.002) in the preserved group but sho
wed no difference for the average figure coefficient and average cell
area. The histological study showed corneal swelling and epithelial sl
oughing in the preserved group. TEM displayed moderate preservation in
juries, such as numerous vacuoles, mitochondrial swelling, and increas
ed cell thickness. These results are consistent with previous findings
that indicated that C31 medium induces moderate preservation injuries
.