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Viability, Structural Integrity and Ocular Humor Dynamics are Established after Whole Eye Transplantation
Maxine R. Miller, M.D., Yang Li, M.D., Ph.D., Chiaki Komatsu, M.D., Hongkun Wang, M.D., Bo Wang, B.S., Yolandi van der Merwe, B.Eng, Leon C. Ho, B.Eng, Nataliya Kostereva, Ph.D., Wensheng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Bo Xiao, M.D., Ph.D.,Edward H. Davidson MA (Cantab.) MBBS, Mario G. Solari, M.D., Shuzhong Guo M.D., Ph.D, Jeffrey L. Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D., Larry Benowitz, M.D., Ph.D., Joel S. Schuman, M.D., Kevin C. Chan, Ph.D., Vijay S. Gorantla, M.D., Ph.D, Kia M. Washington, M.D.
1VCA lab, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
2De
2015-03-14
Presenter: Maxine R. Miller, M.D.
Affidavit:
I can attest that much of the work on this project represents the original work of Maxine Miller, our research fellow.
Director Name: Joseph E. Losee, MD, FACS, FAAP
Author Category: Fellow Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Basic Science Research
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
INTRODUCTION: Approximately 39 million suffer from blindness, largely due to the inability of retinal ganglion cells to regenerate. Whole eye transplantation (WET) can potentially provide a viable optical system with retinal ganglion cells to blind recipients. We have established a WET model in the rat. Our study evaluates viability, structural integrity and ocular physiology after WET. METHODS: Syngeneic transplants were performed in Lewis (RT1l) rats. The donor flap comprised tissue anterior to the optic chiasm, the skin of the eyelid and ear. The recipient site was prepared by removing a similar region of tissue with the optic nerve cut at the base of the globe. The graft was transplanted to the recipient. Slit lamp examination, Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) and MRI evaluated ocular viability, structural integrity and physiology. RESULTS: 15 of 22 rats survived. Transparency of the anterior eye was maintained as evidenced by slit lamp examination. All experienced peripheral corneal neovascularization. OCT studies confirmed transparency of the cornea and lens, preservation of retinal layers and blood flow throughout the eye. Gadolinium enhanced MRI showed the presence of intact aqueous humor dynamics and preserved integrity of the blood-ocular and aqueous-vitreous barriers. Histology confirmed peripheral corneal neovascularization and preservation of retinal structural integrity, with the exception of thinning of retinal nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers. CONCLUSION: We have established a WET model in the rat. Maintenance of structural integrity, viability and intact aqueous humor dynamics were confirmed. The model is excellent for examining viability, functional return and immunology in WET.
