Electrical parameters of the isolated cornea of the dogfish, Squalus acanthias

The electrical potential difference and electrical resistance of the nonswelling cornea of the dogfish, Squalus acanthias, were examined. It was found that routine procedures used in the procurement of fish invariably produce damage to the corneal epithelium which affects electrical measurements and possibly composition of the aqueous humor. We found no electrical evidence of ionic pumps in the corneal epithelium of this elasmobranch. The electrical resistance of corneas with apparently well-preserved epithelium was 300omega-cm.2 (compared to 30omega-cm.2 in corneas with damaged epithelium).