M-K MEDIUM AND POSTMORTEM CYTOLOGIC DAMAGE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (2) , 159-170
Abstract
Freshly enucleated rabbit eyes were refrigerated at +4.degree. C under standard eye bank conditions for 2, 6, 9 and 21 days. One group of corneas with a scleral rim were excised and placed in M-K [McCarey-Kaufman] medium, stored for 18, 24 or 48 h at +4 C; they were then removed, and endothelial cell viability was evaluated with nitroblue tetrazolium. The cells were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A 2nd group of corneas were similarly obtained and then used as donor coreas from 6 mm transplants. Each recipient rabbit was evaluated daily by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and corneal pachometry. Fourteen days postoperatively, the rabbits were sarcificed, the eyes enucleated, and the excised corneas were evaluated in a fashion similar to those of group I. M-K medium storage protected the morphology and functional integrity of the rabbit corneal endothelium up to 48 h beyond moist chamber storage for 2, 6 and 9 days. M-K medium appeared to have no such effect on corneas that had been moist chamber-stored for 21 days. Apparently some human corneas with a prolonged time from death to moist chamber storage may be utilized for corneal transplantation after further storage in M-K medium.

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