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Cultivation of Corneal Epithelial Cells on Intact and Denuded Human Amniotic Membrane.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Noriko Koizumi
  • Nigel J. Fullwood
  • George Bairaktaris
  • Tsutomu Inatomi
  • Shigeru Kinoshita
  • Andrew Quantock
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>08/2000
<mark>Journal</mark>Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Issue number9
Volume41
Number of pages8
Pages (from-to)2506-2513
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

PURPOSE. Surgery to reconstruct the ocular surface is greatly facilitated by the use of amniotic membrane, either as a biologic drape or, more recently, as a substrate for the transplantation of cultivated corneal epithelial cells. This study was designed to compare the usefulness of intact and denuded human amniotic membranes as a substrate for corneal epithelial cell culture. METHODS. Small (3-mm-diameter) biopsy specimens of superficial cornea including epithelium were excised from the central and limbal regions in rabbits. They were cultured on human amniotic membrane with or without amniotic epithelial cells and examined by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS. Cellular outgrowth from the central explants (n = 10) after 14 days in culture measured 1.82 ± 2.62 mm2 on intact amniotic membrane and 131.83 ± 28.31 mm2 on denuded amniotic membrane. In contrast, outgrowths from the limbal explants (n = 10) at the same time measured 4.58 ± 4.56 and 505.39 ± 134.20 mm2 on intact and denuded amniotic membranes, respectively. The leading edges of the outgrowths on intact amniotic membrane were much less uniform than those on denuded amniotic membrane, and, in the former, corneal epithelial cells appeared to migrate over the top of amniotic epithelial cells. Limbal cells cultivated on denuded amniotic membrane formed a nicely stratified layer that adhered well to the underlying amniotic membrane. CONCLUSIONS. Denuded amniotic membrane appears to be an excellent substrate for the cultivation of corneal epithelial cells, with a view to transplantation.