Contrast-Enhanced Micro-Ct 3d Visualization of Cell Distribution in Hydrated Human Cornea

Abstract

Background: The cornea, a vital component of the human eye, plays a crucial role in maintaining visual clarity. Understanding its ultrastructural organization and cell distribution is fundamental for elucidating corneal physiology and pathology. This study comprehensively examines the hydrated human cornea's microarchitecture using contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).

Method: Fresh human corneal specimens were carefully prepared and hydrated to mimic their in vivo state. Contrast enhancement with Lugol's iodine-enabled high-resolution Micro-CT imaging. The cells' three-dimensional (3D) distribution within the cornea was reconstructed and analyzed.

Results: The micro-CT imaging revealed exquisite details of the corneal ultrastructure, including the spatial arrangement of cells throughout its depth. This novel approach allowed for the visualization of cells' density and distribution in different corneal layers. Notably, our findings highlighted variations in cell distribution between non-hydrated and hydrated corneas.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of contrast-enhanced micro-CT as a valuable tool for non-destructive, 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of cell distribution in hydrated human corneas. These insights contribute to a better understanding of corneal physiology and may have implications for research in corneal diseases and tissue engineering.

Note:
Funding Declaration: The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Norwegian Research Council (Grant No. E667269 (3D-CORNEA)) within the NANO2021 activity, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 801133. The Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics and participants in this project have received funding from the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted and the Raagholt Foundation.

Conflicts of Interest: None

Ethical Approval: Human tissue procurement as leftover donor tissue for research purposes from the local Cornea Bank following the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and approval by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Norway (REK: 2017/418). Four human corneas not suitable for transplantation were used for this study and divided accordingly

Keywords: cornea, contrast-enhanced micro-CT, Swelling, Collagen fibrils, virtual histology