McCarey-Kaufman (MK) organ culture and MK medium-shifted corneas

J. D. Nelson, D. B. Lange, R. L. Lindstrom, D. J. Doughman and D. L. Hatchell

Paired human donor corneas were studied to determine the effects of temperature, osmolarity, and media shifts on the endothelium of corneas stored in McCarey-Kaufman (MK) medium initially and then shifted to standard organ culture medium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated intact corneal endothelium in six of seven human control corneas stored in MK medium prior to fixation. Intact corneal endothelium was similarly demonstrated by specular microscopy, SEM, and TEM in seven of seven "MK-shifted" corneas. These data suggest that MK-stored donor corneas may be transferred into an organ culture system at 34 degrees C for prolonged storage with maintenance of corneal endothelial cell viability.