Corneal opacification following keratoplasty in the rat model
Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium;1q, http://www.100md.com
Keywords: corneal opacification; keratoplasty; rat model1q, http://www.100md.com
I read with great interest the excellent perspective by Plsková et al,1 in which they raise the issue of transient corneal opacification following corneal transplantation in the mouse model and argue that it might be due to a sufficient number of endothelial cells regaining function.1q, http://www.100md.com
What the authors describe for the mouse model also occurs in the rat model. In fact, most researchers on the rat model probably have this experience, but for some reason do not think it is very important and/or choose to ignore it. Apart from the article by Williams et al,2 there is—as far as I know—only one other author who has explicitly mentioned this transient opacification. In their paper, Herbort et al3 wrote "The grafts began clearing 4 weeks after surgery . . . and vessels in the graft diminished from 6 weeks post-surgery." and "It has to be noted that after acute rejection most corneas regain some clarity by 7–8 weeks." Transient corneal opacification also occurs in the rat model I used4 (AO rats (strain RT1u) served as recipients of corneas from PVG rats (strain RT1c) and corneas were sutured with a single running suture). Allogeneic transplanted corneas showed no initial opacification immediately postoperatively; neither did the syngeneic controls. All allogeneic corneas "rejected" (or more precisely showed total opacification) around day 11–13 and those corneas, when followed long enough, all cleared. Opacification remained higher than 2 (meaning an increased corneal haze, but some anterior chamber structures still visible) at days 17–21 and became lower than 2 (slight haze) around days 21–32.
It would be exciting to know if the hypothesis put forward by Plsková et al1 would also apply to the rat model and to find out if this "clearing" of the opacification also occurs in other rat strains than the ones mentioned.wcc, 百拇医药
Plsková et al have raised a very important topic where a lot of uncertainty still exists, and which warrants further research.wcc, 百拇医药
Referenceswcc, 百拇医药
Plsková J, Kuffová L, Holán V, et al. Evaluation of corneal graft rejection in a mouse model. Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:108–13.wcc, 百拇医药
Williams KA, Coster DJ. Penetrating corneal transplantation in the inbred rat; a new model. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1985;26:23–30.wcc, 百拇医药
Herbort CP, Matsubara M, Nishi M, et al. Penetrating keratoplasty in the rat: a model for the study of immunosuppressive treatment of graft rejection. Jpn J Ophthalmol 1989;33:212–20.wcc, 百拇医药
Claerhout I, Beele H, Verstraete A, et al. The effect of duration and timing of systemic cyclosporine therapy on corneal allograft survival in the rat model. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2001;239:152–7.(Ilse Claerhout)
Keywords: corneal opacification; keratoplasty; rat model1q, http://www.100md.com
I read with great interest the excellent perspective by Plsková et al,1 in which they raise the issue of transient corneal opacification following corneal transplantation in the mouse model and argue that it might be due to a sufficient number of endothelial cells regaining function.1q, http://www.100md.com
What the authors describe for the mouse model also occurs in the rat model. In fact, most researchers on the rat model probably have this experience, but for some reason do not think it is very important and/or choose to ignore it. Apart from the article by Williams et al,2 there is—as far as I know—only one other author who has explicitly mentioned this transient opacification. In their paper, Herbort et al3 wrote "The grafts began clearing 4 weeks after surgery . . . and vessels in the graft diminished from 6 weeks post-surgery." and "It has to be noted that after acute rejection most corneas regain some clarity by 7–8 weeks." Transient corneal opacification also occurs in the rat model I used4 (AO rats (strain RT1u) served as recipients of corneas from PVG rats (strain RT1c) and corneas were sutured with a single running suture). Allogeneic transplanted corneas showed no initial opacification immediately postoperatively; neither did the syngeneic controls. All allogeneic corneas "rejected" (or more precisely showed total opacification) around day 11–13 and those corneas, when followed long enough, all cleared. Opacification remained higher than 2 (meaning an increased corneal haze, but some anterior chamber structures still visible) at days 17–21 and became lower than 2 (slight haze) around days 21–32.
It would be exciting to know if the hypothesis put forward by Plsková et al1 would also apply to the rat model and to find out if this "clearing" of the opacification also occurs in other rat strains than the ones mentioned.wcc, 百拇医药
Plsková et al have raised a very important topic where a lot of uncertainty still exists, and which warrants further research.wcc, 百拇医药
Referenceswcc, 百拇医药
Plsková J, Kuffová L, Holán V, et al. Evaluation of corneal graft rejection in a mouse model. Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:108–13.wcc, 百拇医药
Williams KA, Coster DJ. Penetrating corneal transplantation in the inbred rat; a new model. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1985;26:23–30.wcc, 百拇医药
Herbort CP, Matsubara M, Nishi M, et al. Penetrating keratoplasty in the rat: a model for the study of immunosuppressive treatment of graft rejection. Jpn J Ophthalmol 1989;33:212–20.wcc, 百拇医药
Claerhout I, Beele H, Verstraete A, et al. The effect of duration and timing of systemic cyclosporine therapy on corneal allograft survival in the rat model. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2001;239:152–7.(Ilse Claerhout)