The effect of steroids on the viability of endothelial cells of stored cornea

The change of endothelial cell viability due to corticosteroid treatment in stored rabbit corneas was investigated. Hydrocortisone was injected into the anterior chamber of enucleated eyeballs which were stored in a moist chamber. After 24,48, or 72 hours of storage, the cornea was removed and stained with trypan blue. The unstained endothelial cells were counted under the light microscope in order to determine the density of viable endothelial cells. The same procedures were done on the contralateral eye with normal saline injected into the anterior chamber instead of hydrocortisone as a control. The density of viable endothelial cells in the corticosteroid-treated group was higher than that of the control group by 1.75%,14.39%, and 27.40% in 24,45, and 72 hour-stored corneas, respectively.