Preliminary exploration of rabbit corneal limbus stem cells cultured with tissue block and enzyme digestion method

AIM:To establish a simple and efficient method for the primary culture of rabbit corneal limbus stem cells.<p>METHODS:Obtained the limbal tissues from rabbits,used tissue block and enzyme digestion method to culture the corneal limbus stem cells <i>in vitro</i>.The growth characteristics of the cultured cells <i>in vitro</i> were observed under inverted microscope.By means of HE,the morphology and construction features of cells were observed.And immunohistochemical method was used to identify the cultured cells.<p>RESULTS:Rabbit corneal limbus stem cells could be fast and simply cultured by using tissue block and enzyme digestion method.The dynamic observation under microscope showed that rabbit corneal limbus stem cells grew well with a higher proliferative capacity.In HE staining,the morphology and structure of cells were normal.AE5 and P63 cellular immune identification were positive.<p>CONCLUSION: Tissue block and enzyme digestion method could be a simple and efficient mode for the primary culture of rabbit corneal limbus stem cells