| Title | Evaluation of Megacell MEM as a Storage Medium for Corneas Destined for Transplantation. | | Author(s) | Smith VA, Johnson T | | Institution | University of Bristol, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol, UK. | | Source | Ophthalmic Res 2009 Oct 14; 43(1):18-25. | | Abstract | Purpose: Gibco's Minimum Essential Medium with Earle's salts and HEPES supplemented with glutamine, antibiotics (EB MEM) and 2% foetal calf serum (FCS) is used in European eye banks to store corneas. Although FCS is important to endothelial cell survival in this medium, it is a potential biohazard. Megacell MEM, formulated to reduce the FCS requirement of cells by a factor of 5, has therefore been evaluated as a corneal storage medium.
Methods: Corneal stromal and epithelial cells were incubated in Megacell MEM (serum-free or 2% FCS) to assess their viability in these media. Endothelial cell densities of paired corneas held in either EB MEM 2% FCS or Megacell MEM (serum-free or 2% FCS) were measured over 5 weeks. Discs subsequently punched from the centre of these corneas were weighed, dried and reweighed to determine hydration levels.
Results: Both corneal stromal and epithelial cells proliferated in Megacell MEM 2% FCS. Relative to EB MEM, 2% FCS Megacell MEM prolonged the viability of corneal endothelial cells and improved their morphological appearance, irrespective of whether it contained FCS or not. This was independent of corneal swelling.
Conclusion: Serum-free Megacell MEM is a better storage medium than EB MEM 2% FCS for corneas destined for transplantation. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19829008 |
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