Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Change of potassium current density in rabbit corneal epithelial cells during maturation and cellular senescence
Shu-Wen Chang1, Gwo-Jyh Chang, Ming-Jai Su
1Department of Ophthalmology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Background:
Voltage-gated potassium (K+) channels may participate in cellular developmental regulation, including cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. This study investigated the change of K + current densities in corneal epithelial cells during maturation and cellular senescence.
Methods:
New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three age groups: newborn (
Results:
We delineated two types of cells manifesting different amplitudes of depolarization-activated K+ outward currents. The averaged current density of type 1 response cells was significantly larger than that of type 2 cells in newborn, young, and adult groups. For newborn epithelial cells, the depolarization-gated outward K+ current density decreased from small to medium to large cells (p = 0.049, at a membrane potential of 140 mV). A similar pattern of change in current density was also delineated for these cell sizes in young and adult rabbit corneal cells (p < 0.001 for both young and adult rabbits). An increase in depolarization-gated outward K+ current density was also delineated from newborn to young to adult rabbits (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.006 for small, medium and large cells, respectively, at a membrane potential of 140 mV).
Conclusions:
Corneal epithelial cells expressed K+ channel densities that were distinct from basal to superficial cells and from newborn to adult rabbits.
