Demonstration of technical feasibility and viability of whole eye transplantation in a rodent model


Zor F., Polat M., Kulahci Y., Sahin H., Aral A. M., Erbas V. E., ...More

JOURNAL OF PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE AND AESTHETIC SURGERY, vol.72, no.10, pp.1640-1650, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 72 Issue: 10
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.bjps.2019.05.042
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE AND AESTHETIC SURGERY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1640-1650
  • Keywords: Whole eye transplantation, immunology, rejection, optic nerve, vision restoration, vascularized composite allotransplantation, immunosuppression, nerve regeneration, RETINAL GANGLION-CELLS, ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY, PERIPHERAL-NERVE GRAFTS, OPTIC-NERVE, VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, ALLOTRANSPLANTATION MODEL, GLOBAL PREVALENCE, VISION IMPAIRMENT, TEMPORAL-TRENDS, BLINDNESS
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Introduction: Whole eye transplantation (WET) holds promise for vision restoration in devastating/disabling visual loss (congenital or traumatic) not amenable to surgical or neuroprosthetic treatment options. The eye includes multiple tissues with distinct embryonic lineage and differential antigenicity. Anatomically and immunologically, the eye is unique due to its avascular (cornea) and highly vascular (retina) components. Our goal was to establish technical feasibility, demonstrate graft viability, and evaluate histologic changes in ocular tissues/adnexae in a novel experimental model of WET that included globe, adnexal, optic nerve (ON), and periorbital soft tissues.