[Morphology of the corneal endothelium following preservation in dextran or chondroitin sulfate containing culture media].

The effects of dextran (group 1) and chondroitin sulfate (group 2) as additives to the culture medium in regenerated donor tissue preservation were investigated. In an experimental study, porcine corneas were incubated for 10 days at 4 degrees C in MEM with 1% chondroitin sulfate or MEM with 6% Dextran (MG 500,000). After a storage period, the corneoscleral disks were incubated in organ culture for 48 h at 32 degrees C, 1,016 cells of group 1 and 777 cells of group 2 were analyzed and the cell area, shape and number of sides were computed. In a control group we digitized 1,023 cells of 20 fresh porcine corneas. The mean area of the cells in group 1 was 345 +/- 212, in group 2 337 +/- 168; in the control group 263 +/- 59 microns2. In the statistical analysis of the data (U test), the preserved tissue had a significantly lower cell count and higher polymorphism than fresh tissue. When group 1 and 2 were compared no significant differences between the preservation media could be found.