ENZYMATIC REMOVAL AND PURE CULTURE OF RABBIT CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS.

Abstract

Introduction The present study concerns the isolation of rabbit corneal endothelial cells and their culture in sufficient number for experimental studies. During the last half of the 19th century flat preparations of corneal endothelium were first made. Later, Nagano separated Descemet's membrane with its endothelial covering. 1 In 1929, Matsui cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells that had been isolated by stripping Descemet's membrane. 2 Recently, Stocker et al devised a technique of mechanically separating the cornea into endothelial, stromal, and epithelial layers for use in tissue culture. 3 This paper describes the use of an enzyme to isolate corneal endothelial cells, and presents observations on the activities of these cells in tissue culture. Materials and Methods The present study was conducted on adult albino and pigmented rabbits of 1.5 to 2 kg body weight. The animals were killed by intravenous air injection, the eyes enucleated and placed in a sterile