Mustonen R K, McDonald M B, Srivannaboon S, Tan A L, Doubrava M W, Kim C K
Refractive Surgery Center of the South, EENT Institute at Memorial Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Cornea. 1998 Sep;17(5):485-92. doi: 10.1097/00003226-199809000-00005.
To analyze cellular populations in healthy human corneas.
The study group consisted of 58 eyes of 45 patients with normal corneas. The age distribution was 45 +/- 17 years (mean +/- SD; range, 20-84). Scanning slit confocal microscopy of the central corneas was performed. The images were analyzed visually for cell morphology, and the densities and areas of cells were measured.
No statistically significant differences were measured in cell densities or cell areas of any corneal layer between female and male patients (p = 0.22-0.50) nor between right and left eyes (p = 0.16-0.45). The area of superficial epithelial cells was 913 +/- 326 microm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 518-2,112), and the superficial epithelial cell density was 1,213 +/- 370 cells/mm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 473-1,929). The area of basal epithelial cells was 177 +/- 19 microm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 138-242), and the basal epithelial cell density was 5,699 +/- 604 cells/mm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 4,135-7,267). The average apparent keratocyte density was 1,058 +/- 217 cells/mm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 604-1,599) in the anterior stroma, and 771 +/- 135 cells/mm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 493-1,145) in the posterior stroma. The difference in apparent keratocyte densities between the anterior and posterior stroma was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The average endothelial cell area was 334 +/- 51 microm2 (range, 273-553), and the cell density was 3,055 +/- 386 cells/mm2 (mean +/- SD; range, 1,809-3,668). The endothelial cell density had a negative, statistically significant correlation with age (r = -0.68, p < 0.001). The densities of the other corneal cell layers did not have a statistically significant correlation with age.
In vivo scanning slit confocal microscopy is a useful tool for studying corneal cell populations. Central corneal cell densities were found to decrease significantly with age only in the endothelium. For the first time in human corneas using in vivo confocal microscopy, this study statistically confirms a higher apparent number of keratocytes in the anterior stroma than in the posterior stroma.
分析健康人角膜中的细胞群体。
研究组由45例角膜正常患者的58只眼组成。年龄分布为45±17岁（均值±标准差；范围20 - 84岁）。对中央角膜进行扫描裂隙共聚焦显微镜检查。对图像进行视觉分析以观察细胞形态，并测量细胞密度和面积。
在女性和男性患者之间，任何角膜层的细胞密度或细胞面积均未测得有统计学显著差异（p = 0.22 - 0.50），左右眼之间也无差异（p = 0.16 - 0.45）。表层上皮细胞面积为913±326平方微米（均值±标准差；范围518 - 2112），表层上皮细胞密度为1213±370个细胞/平方毫米（均值±标准差；范围473 - 1929）。基底上皮细胞面积为177±19平方微米（均值±标准差；范围138 - 242），基底上皮细胞密度为5699±604个细胞/平方毫米（均值±标准差；范围4135 - 7267）。前基质中平均表观角膜细胞密度为1058±217个细胞/平方毫米（均值±标准差；范围604 - 1599），后基质中为771±135个细胞/平方毫米（均值±标准差；范围493 - 1145）。前基质和后基质之间表观角膜细胞密度的差异具有统计学显著性（p < 0.001）。平均内皮细胞面积为334±51平方微米（范围273 - 553），细胞密度为3055±386个细胞/平方毫米（均值±标准差；范围1809 - 3668）。内皮细胞密度与年龄呈负相关，具有统计学显著性（r = -0.68，p < 0.001）。其他角膜细胞层的密度与年龄无统计学显著相关性。
活体扫描裂隙共聚焦显微镜检查是研究角膜细胞群体的有用工具。仅在内皮细胞中发现中央角膜细胞密度随年龄显著降低。本研究首次使用活体共聚焦显微镜在人角膜中从统计学上证实前基质中表观角膜细胞数量高于后基质。
