Summary
To study corneal lymphangiogenesis after corneal transplantation, corneal allogenic transplantation models were established in rats. 8 female Wister rats were used as donors, and 16 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used as recipients and 2 SD served as controls. Corneal lymphangiogenesis and hemangiogenesis was examined by electron microscopy 1 and 2 weeks after corneal penetrating transplantation, and the expression of lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor (LYVE-1) was examined 1, 3, 7, 14 days after the transplantation respectively. In addition, 19 allograft failed human corneas were examined by 5′-nase-alkaline phosphatase (5′-NA-ALP) double-enzyme-histochemistry staining to detect corneal lymphangiogenesis and hemangiogenesis. By immunohistochemistry for LYVE-1, it was found that blown lymphatics were localized in the stroma 3 days after the corneal transplantation. With electron microscopy, new lymphatic vessels and blood vessels were found 1 and 2 weeks after the corneal transplantation. By 5′-NA-ALP enzyme-histochemistry, corneal hemangiogenesis was found in all allograft failed human corneas and 5 of 19 (26. 3%) cases had developed corneal lymphangiogenesis. It is concluded that corneal lymphangiogenesis is present after corneal transplantation, which may play an important role in allograft rejection.
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LING Shiqi, male, born in 1973, Doctor in Charge
The project was supported by a grant from the Foundation of China Postdoctoral Program (No. 20050384).
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Shiqi, L., Qing, X. & Yanhua, H. Lymphangiogenesis occurring in transplanted corneas. J. Huazhong Univ. Sci. Technol. [Med. Sci.] 26, 241–244 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02895827
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02895827