Decellularization of Porcine and Primate Optic Nerve Lamina

The optic nerve lamina cribrosa is a mesh-like collagenous structure consisting of an extracellular matrix with varying porosity and glial cell distribution through which axons of retinal ganglion cells travel en route to the lateral geniculate nucleus. There has been significant interest in its structure with respect to its possible role in the pathophysiology of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Our goal was to decellularize porcine and primate lamina to evaluate for a potential role as a three-dimensional scaffold for stem cell growth, regeneration, and delivery.