James Fraser Eide Macpherson, MD, Gustavo A de Souza, PhD, Bjørn Nicolaissen, MD, PhD, Jesper O Hjortdal, MD, Kim Nielsen, PhD, Jon Klokk Slettedal, MD, PhD
corneal preservation medium, endothelium, specular microscopy
PURPOSE: To compare four different eye bank media for electrolyte composition and changes to concentrations during corneal preservation. Potential implications of variations in electrolyte composition will be discussed.
METHODS: Twenty-four human donor corneas were preserved in one of four types of media: Optisol GS (Optisol) at 4°C, Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) containing 2% Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) (MEM2) at 32°C, MEM with 8% FCS (MEM8) at 32°C, or Stem Alpha (STA) serum-free organ culture medium at 31°C. Cornea-free control media for each group were also stored. Samples were drawn at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of storage and analyzed for K+, Na+, Ca2+, Cl−, glucose, and lactate concentrations using a blood gas analyzer. Media were not changed during the storage period.
RESULTS: Mean concentrations of K+ at day 0 were 3.58, 4.56, 5.70, and 4.22 mmol/L for Optisol, MEM2, MEM8, and STA culture media, respectively. Concentrations of Na+ were 174.1, 126.6, 136.9, and 129.8 mmol/L; Ca2+ 0.70, 1.33, 1.34, and 1.13 mmol/L; and Cl− 103.3, 101.4, 113.6, and 97.8 mmol/L. Comparisons of the concentrations at day 0 against day 28 revealed no statistically significant differences, with the exception of Ca2+ concentrations in MEM2, STA, and Optisol.
CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of electrolytes in various eye bank media differ. Concentrations vary little through the preservation period. Some electrolyte concentrations are not within the physiological range when compared to concentrations in aqueous humor or tear fluid. Optimizing electrolyte composition of eye bank media may be beneficial for the quality of donor tissue.
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Reviewer Acknowledgement 2012-2013
Looking Back on the First 18 Months of Publication and Looking Forward to Opportunities to Come
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Development of the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations
Implementation of Standardized Terminology and ISBT 128 Product Codes for Ocular Tissue
Recent Advance in the Cryopreservation of Corneal Limbal Stem Cells
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