Multimodal Imaging of the Corneal Endothelial Transition Zone Reveals Progenitor Cell Population.

ABSTRACT: The assessment of donor corneas is currently based solely on central endothelial cell (EC) density, which potentially overlooks the transition zone (TZ) regenerative potential. Therefore, the present study characterizes TZ using multimodal imaging techniques to understand its regenerative potential and refine the assessment of donor tissue. Ex vivo donor corneas (n = 41) were examined using phase-contrast microscopy for EC counting and reflectance confocal microscopy (HRTII/RCM) for non-invasive visualization of the TZ. A subset of eight of these corneas underwent ultrastructural analysis using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunostaining analysis using confocal microscopy. We observed a significant decrease in central EC density (p < 0.001) with increasing s

SUBMITTER: Rathi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12691442 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature