BSS and BSS-plus: effect on corneal endothelial ionic and non-ionic fluxes

Rabbit corneas were mounted in water jacketed chambers and the endothelial surface perfused with either BSS (Balanced Salt Solution) or BSS-Plus for 3 hr. Unidirectional and net fluxes of sodium were similar in both groups of corneas. Bicarbonate fluxes in BSS-Plus were statistically similar to those in Krebs-Ringer solution. Bicarbonate fluxes could not be determined with BSS because the solution does not contain bicarbonate. In addition, there was no statistically significant alteration of inulin or dextran permeability when comparing perfusion with BSS and BSS-Plus. From this study it appears that BSS and BSS-Plus are comparable in their ability to maintain corneal endothelial physiologic function during in-vitro perfusion. This is in contrast to previous work which showed that BSS-Plus induced less endothelial morphologic change than BSS. It is concluded that morphologic alterations may be more sensitive parameters of endothelial stress than are fluxes and permeabilities.