Intracameral injection of limbal mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (LMSCs-CM) improve clinical outcome with delayed on Na-K ATPase corneal endothelial pump recovery in phacoemulsified rabbit eyes

To investigate the effect of LMSCs-CM on central corneal thickness (CCT) and Na+/K+ ATPase of endothelial cells expression inphacoemulsifiedrabbit eyes. This was a true experimental laboratory study on rabbits using a pre and posttest control group design. Approximately 24 rabbit eyes were exposed to phacoemulsification ultrasound, then randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group was injected using 0.2 ml of physiological saline (BSS) intracamerally, while the treatment group was injected with 0.2 LMSCs-CM intracamerally. Central corneal thickness was evaluated on the 3rd day after treatment, followed by enucleation to analyzed Na+/K+ ATPase expression using immunohistochemistry.The LMSCs-CM significantly reduced corneal edema and inflammation resulting in clinical improvement. There was no mean difference of CCT between groups (p = 0.372, α>0.05). However, CCT was higher in the control group (62.00 ± 27.41) when compared to the treatment group (50.00 ± 36.45 um). Similarly, the expression of Na + / K + ATPase in both groups was not significantly different (p = 0.973, α>0.05). After 3 days, LMSCs-CM exerted clinical improvements, but had a delay in functional recovery, in regards to Na+/K+ ATPase expression in the corneal endothelial cells.