AIM:To understand the relation between the penetrating keratoplasty rejection and the methods of cornea preservation.

METHODS: The 30 Wistar rats as donator and 60 SD rats as receptor were used to establish the animal models of penetrating keratoplasty rejection. And 60 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Donor cornea of Wistar rats preserved in different methods were used separately in 3 groups. The penetrating keratoplasty rejection index(RI), means survival time(MST)of corneal grafts and pathological changes in post-operation were analyzed.

RESULTS: The MST was(10.4±1.70)d in moist-chamber-preserved group(Ⅰ),(12.9±1.81)d in medium-term-preserved group(Ⅱ)and(16.1±2.57)d in cryopreserved group(Ⅲ). The MST in the cryopreserved group was evidently prolonged, showing a significant correlation compared with other two groups(P<0.01). The sections with HE staining revealed that the severity of inflammation in Ⅲ group was reduced compared with that of Ⅰ,Ⅱ group after 10d of keratoplasty.

CONCLUSION: The postoperative rejection of penetrating keratoplasty in rats is decreased and rejection time is delayed in cryopreserved cornea.