Objective    To develop a medium-term corneal storage medium containing human serum and investigate its preservation effect on rabbits’ corneas.     Methods     Corneal storage media containing human serum 10% (group A)

20% (group B)

30% (group C)

and 0% (group D) were prepared. Rabbits’ corneas were stored in the above corneal storage media as well as Optisol-GS cornea storage medium (control group). On the 3rd

7th

10th and 14th day after preservation

the viability of corneal endothelial cells

the corneal histopathology

the corneal microstructure

and the physicochemical properties and biological safety of corneal storage media were examined using trypan blue-alizarin red staining

pathological sections of corneas

scanning electron microscopy

and microbiological evaluation

respectively.     Results    On the 14th day after preservation

the viability of corneal endothelial cells

the corneal histopathology and the corneal microstructure showed no significant differences between group C and the control group (P0.05). Besides

the physicochemical properties of corneal storage media were stable without any biological hazard. On the 3rd

7th and 10th day after preservation

the viability of the corneal endothelial cells showed significant differences between groups A

B and D and the control group (P0.05). On the 7th day after preservation

the corneal histopathology showed no significant differences between the experimental groups and the control group

and histopathological changes occurred in groups D

A and B sequentially with time. At the 7th day after preservation

the corneal microstructure showed significant differences between group D and group C or the control group.     Conclusion    The medium-term corneal storage medium containing human serum 30% can preserve rabbits’ corneal tissues for 7 to 10 d. It has stable physicochemical properties

and it is safe and effective.