Evaluation of species differences and the effects of storage duration and temperature on the anticollagenase efficacy of canine, feline, and equine serum on in vitro corneal degradation.

The study compares the effectiveness of dog, cat, and horse serum in inhibiting corneal degradation and evaluates the influence of storage temperature and duration on its effectiveness. The research suggests that the serum does reduce corneal degradation, and the efficacy is not affected by the duration and temperature of storage.

Study Methods

• Researchers collected corneal samples from healthy dogs, cats, and horses within two hours after euthanasia. They also collected and pooled serum samples by species.
• The corneas were then subjected to collagenase from a bacterium called Clostridium histolyticum. This process breaks down collagen, a major protein in the cornea, in order to artificially induce corneal degradation.
• The corneas were also treated with a saline solution containing calcium chloride and canine, feline, or equine serum that had been stored for different lengths of time (0, 30, 90, or 180 days) at two different temperatures (-20°C or -80°C).

Results

• Feline serum was found to be more effective than canine or equine serum in minimizing corneal weight loss.
• Corneas treated with feline or equine serum produced less hydroxyproline – a collagen breakdown marker – than those treated with canine serum.
• The length of time the serum was stored did not affect its ability to prevent corneal weight loss. However, the concentration of hydroxyproline was greater in corneas treated with serum that had been stored for 90 days compared to those treated with serum stored for 0, 30, or 180 days.
• The temperature at which the serum was stored (-20°C or -80°C) did not influence its effectiveness in preventing corneal degradation.

Implications

• This indicates that serum, regardless of species origin, reduced corneal degradation in vitro (outside the body), suggesting potential therapeutic utility.
• The research findings also imply that the duration and temperature of serum storage do not affect its anticollagenase properties, providing valuable guidance for practicable storage and utilisation of such serums in clinical settings.
• It is, however, important to note that this research was conducted in a lab setting, thus further investigations are needed to validate these findings for real-world clinical applications.