[Endothelial cell transplantation in a model].

Human donor corneas that were unsuitable for transplantation were denuded of their endothelium and then used as substrates for seeding in vitro cultured human or porcine corneal endothelial cells. Only cells that expressed an endothelial-like morphology in vitro formed a monolayer on the denuded matrix whereas fibroblast-like cells showed no redifferentiation. The maximal achieved cell density was 3,500 cells/mm2 if porcine cells were used and 1,800 cells/mm2 for human cells. Adhesion of the cells was best if the subendothelial matrix was carefully prepared mechanically. Moreover, cell seeding was improved by slight centrifugation. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), which enhanced endothelial cell proliferation in vitro, did not influence proliferation after cell transplantation, but seemed to allow better regeneration of the newly formed monolayer on the corneas.