Non-antagonistic influences of intrastromal corneal ring on primary human microvascular endothelial cells from adult donors in a tissue culture system
Summary
Purpose
Insertion of the Krumeich corneal intrastromal ring (KR) appears to restrict superficial vascularization of donor corneal tissue. The purpose of this report was to determine cytotoxic effects of the KR using tissue culture of primary HMVEC.
Methods
Soluble growth medium extracts of individual components of the KR alloy were prepared and HMVEC cells were exposed to these extracts in triplicates for one day and a subsequent MTT assay. Furthermore, HMVEC were grown for five days onto either KR or polypropylene discs coated with individual components of the KR alloy, followed by staining with FDA/PI.
Results
MTT assays revealed that higher doses of extracts appeared to reduce the viability of HMVEC, while highly diluted extracts of Mo powder appeared to increase the metabolic activity of HMVEC. FDA/PI staining showed few live HMVEC on either Co or Mo-coated propylene discs, compared to the respective Ti and Cr counterparts. Viable HMVEC appear attached to the KR after a 5 day incubation period.
Conclusion
The Krumeich ring does not appear to exert measurable cytotoxic effects in our chosen assay system. High dilutions of Mo powder extracts appear to increase the metabolic activity of HMVEC.
