Clinical and Morphological Aspects of the Human Amniotic Membrane on Rabbits Corneas with Induced Limbal Germinative Cells Deficiency.

Abstract

The human amniotic membrane (HAM) has been used in ocular surface reconstruction of the thermical and alkali burns with limbal steam cells deficiency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate of the DMSO₄ cryo-preserved HAM on rabbit’s corneas with limbal deficiency, under clinical and morphological aspects. Twenty healthy rabbits, with 2.6kg weigth-body were used. The animals were randomized into two groups (G1- n=10, G2– n=10). The groups were subdivided into two subgroups for study at 7^th and 30^th days postoperatively. The animals of G1 were submitted to total peritomy and keratolimbectomy, followed by application of 0.5 M NaOH, under anaesthesia, and did not receive the HAM transplantation. The G2 animals, under the same conditions, received the HAM after mechanical and chemical injuries. After 7^th and 30^th postoperatively observation, half of the animals of each group (G1 and G2) were submitted to humanitarian euthanize and the respective corneas collected for morphological analysis. Cryo-preserved HAM may be an effective alternative in ocular surface reconstructive surgery because the HAM-treated corneas shown a better clinical evolution and a less epithelial defect. These aspects were confirmed by morphological analysis.