RESUMEN
AIM: To determine the distributions of central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in emmetropic eyes of healthy children of Palestine. METHODS: This representative cross sectional study included a total of 1156 eyes from 578 healthy school children aged 7-15y. Inclusion criteria included emmetropia, no previous history of ocular or systemic diseases, no previous history of contact lens use, and the availability of both eyes. CCT and IOP were measured using ultrasound pachymeter and Goldmann applanation tonometer, respectively. The relationship of the results with age and gender was investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of school children was 11.13±2.8y. Mean CCT was 542.2±37.4 and 544.3±39.2 µm for right and left eyes, respectively. Mean IOP was 12.5±2.2 and 12.3±2.2 mm Hg for right and left eyes, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between CCT and IOP of the right eye (P<0.001, R=0.358) and CCT and IOP of the left eye (P<0.001, R=0.324). No significant differences were observed in CCT and IOP due to age or gender (P>0.05). There were significant differences in mean CCT and IOP between right and left eyes (P=0.004, P=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: A population profile of CCT and IOP is established in Palestinian children for the first time. Mean CCT is comparable to some studies but differ from others. Mean IOP is considerably lower than that of majority children of other ethnic groups. Intereye difference of more than 36 µm in CCT, and 5 mm Hg in IOP should prompt evaluation for potential ocular disorders.
RESUMEN
This study aimed to modify the mixed and purified culture of rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro. The retinae of 1-3 day old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were separated bluntly into two layers: inner layer and outer layer, under a surgical microscope. Retinal cells isolated from different layers (inner layer, outer layer and whole retinal tissue) by using enzyme dissociation method were cultured in F12/DMEM medium containing 15% FBS. After 3-day culture, the RGCs in the retinal cells obtained from mixed culture of inner, outer, and whole retinal tissue were identified by immunocytochemical staining of Thy-1.1, and the rate of RGCs to retinal cells (RGCs%) was calculated. Two monoclonal antibodies, anti-macrophages/granulocytes (OX-41) against rat macrophage and antibody against rat Thy-1.1 (OX-7), were used to purify RGCs by either a conventional or modified two-stepped immunopanning procedure (purification in situ). Purified RGCs were seeded at different cell density and cultured in F12/DMEM medium containing 15% FBS. Immunocytochemical staining for Thy-1.1, MTT, and PI-Hoechst33342 fluorescence imaging were used to identify the purity and the viability of RGCs in purified culture of RGCs. The results showed: (1) Immunocytochemistry of different retinal tissue layers culture revealed that the RGCs% was (19.9 ± 1.2)%, (0.5 ± 0.2)%, and (6.2 ± 1.7)% respectively in the mixed culture of inner, outer, and whole retinal tissue, with differences being significant (P<0.05); (2) fluorescent double staining of Hoechst33342 and PI indicated that with the same RGCs%, RGCs obtained from purification in situ grew well with more neurite outgrowth than those by the conventional two-stepped immunopanning method; (3) the viability of purified RGCs seeded at high density was increased and the cells developed complex intercellular networks. The viability of RGCs was declined with the decreasing seeding density, and most cells presented round or oval in shape with thin neurites. It was concluded that: (1) RGCs% in the inner layer retina was higher than that in the outer layer retina; (2) RGCs obtained by in situ purification had more neurite outgrowth and lower mortality than those by conventional two-stepped immunopanning procedure; (3) the viability of purified RGCs could be increased by increasing cell seeding density to some extent.