Study on biocompatibility of acellular cornea stroma xenograft in stromal pocket

Objective To study the biocompatibility of acellular cornea stroma implanted in rabbit cornea stroma. Methods The cornea stroma was obtained from adult hog, cells and immunogenic component were removed through different extraction methods, and the elastic and collagen fibers were preserved. Stromal disc with 4 mm diameter was implanted into interlamellar stromal pocket and followed up until 3 months. The immunoreaction of stromal disc was observed with HE staining at different time points. Results The advers immunoreaction was not found in the stromal lamella during experiment and followup. After implantation in 2 weeks, acellular cornea stroma become transparent; after implantation in 3 months, the rabbit stroma cells immigrated into the xenograft, the acellular cornea stromal were gradually degraded. Conclusion It demonstrates that the acellular cornea stroma processes excellent histocompatiblility, thus it is a good materials for constructingtissue- engineered cornea.