Endothelial cells of rabbit cornea in different storage conditions. A quantitative cytochemical study

The metabolic functions of endothelial cells of the rabbit cornea in different storage conditions were studied using quantitative cytochemistry. The corneas were stored for 2 h, and 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days in dexol at 4 degrees C and in culture medium at 37 degrees C. It was shown that glycolysis as expressed by the activity of the cytosolic enzymes glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactic dehydrogenase is well preserved for 1 week in dexol and for 3 days only in the culture medium. Mitochondrial enzymes as shown by succinate dehydrogenase and fatty acid oxidation activity show a similar pattern. Uridine diphosphoglucose dehydrogenase, which plays an important part in proteoglycan synthesis, is markedly decreased in both media, but retains its activity in dexol for a slightly longer time. Keratan and chondroitin sulfate content show a sharp drop in the culture medium at 37 degrees C as compared to dexol. This study demonstrates the superiority of dexol at 4 degrees C over the culture medium at 37 degrees C. Quantitative cytochemistry is a useful tool for studying the metabolism of endothelial cells.