Effects of fibroblast growth factor and chondroitin sulfate on predamaged corneal endothelium. An organ culture study.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and chondroitin sulfate (CDS) were used as supplements in organ culture medium to compare the regeneration ability of corneal endothelium with scattered damages. After 1 week of culturing, cell densities in both FGF-supplemented and FGF + CDS-supplemented groups were not higher than the densities of the control groups. Cells in both groups showed polymorphism. In both CDS-supplemented groups, the corneas were thinner. The cell density in the group supplemented with only CDS was higher than that of the control group, but in the CDS + FGF-supplemented group the cell density was not higher than that of the control and the morphology was even worse. Combining of FGF and CDS in culture medium appeared to be disadvantageous.