The Successful Culture and Autologous Transplantation of Rabbit Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells on Amniotic Membrane

• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.02-0195
• Publication Date: 2003-02-20T21:50:49Z
• Authors: Takahiro Nakamura; Ken-Ichi Endo; Leanne J. Cooper; Nigel J. Fullwood; Noriko Tanifuji; Masakatsu Tsuzuki; Noriko Koizumi; Tsutomu Inatomi; Yoichiro Sano; Shigeru Kinoshita
• Keywords: Hemidesmosome; Oral mucosa; Ex vivo

purpose. To determine the feasibility of using human amniotic membrane (AM) as a substrate for culturing oral epithelial cells and to investigate possibility autologous cultivated in ocular surface reconstruction. methods. An injury was created one eye each eight adult albino rabbits by lamellar keratectomy, conjunctival excision performed, including extending 5 mm outside limbus. Oral mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained from these 3 weeks on denuded AM carrier. The epithelium examined electron microscopy (EM) immunohistochemically labeled several keratins. At 4 after injury, conjunctivalized corneal surfaces surgically reconstructed transplanting results. sheet had four five layers stratified, well-differentiated cells. EM revealed that very similar appearance those normal epithelium, numerous desmosomal junctions, attached basement with hemidesmosomes. Immunohistochemistry confirmed presence keratin pair 13 keratin-3 Corneas grafted an carrier clear all epithelialized 10 days surgery. conclusions. Cultures can be generated confluence expanded ex vivo biopsy-derived tissue. Autologous transplantation performed onto keratectomized rabbit eyes. is feasible method long-term outcome such not yet clear, its clinical use should evaluated further.