Модификация механической модели лимбальной недостаточности

Introduction. Ocular surface diseases related with limbal epithelial stem cells dysfunction were united in term “limbal stem cell  deficiency” (LSCD). For experimental study of the regenerative processes and evaluation of the success of new LSCD treating methods LSCD model is required. Various LSCD models were proposed in the experiment to study: mechanical, thermal, chemical, medicamental. The main lack of these models were the relative high cost and complexity of execution. The mechanical model allows for the guaranteed removal of tissues containing LESCs, and therefore seems to be the most acceptable. We offered a modification of the mechanical LSCD model in rabbits. Purpose to create a standardized modification of the mechanical limbal stem cell deficiency model in the experiment. Material and methods. The experimental study was performed in 10 mature Chinchilla rabbits (20 eyes) with an average weight 2.5–3.5 kg. With the local anesthesia, after a 40-second application of the filter paper impregnated with 20% ethanol, the corneal epithelium was removed. With microsurgical diamond blade we metered limb portion of 4 mm width, 0.2 mm deep, and it was removed along the 360° rim. Results. On the 30th day we discovered corneal opacity and neovascularization with conjunctival pannus extending to the optical zone of the cornea. Histological examination revealed tissue edema, inflammatory infiltration, and newly formed vessels. In some places, thinning of epithelium to one row of flattened cells was observed. The Bowman membrane was deformed and practically not detected. Histological examination and impression cytology confirmed the presence of goblet cells in the corneal epithelium. Conclusions. Our modification of the mechanical limbal stem cell deficiency model is devoid of the main lacks of previous models, such as the high cost and complexity of execution, provides intraoperative limbal tissue resection depth control and excludes the possibility of the eye perforation. It is effective, universal, standardized and available for widespread use.