Uptake of india ink particles and latex beads by corneal fibroblasts

The fate of India ink particles and polystyrene latex beads injected into the corneal stroma of rabbits was studied by the naked eye, light microscopy, and electron microscopy. All the injected ink particles or latex beads were unchanged in shape, size, and number for at least 6 months. India ink particles and latex beads were endocytosed by the corneal fibroblasts within 3-4 days after injection. Numerous ink particles were packed into vacuoles, 0.5-10 micron in diameter, which occupy a large volume of the cytoplasm of the cell body and processes of fibroblasts in and near the injected area. Each latex bead, 0.72 micron in diameter, is usually enclosed in one vesicle, and a large number of vesicles are distributed throughout the cytoplasm. In corneal tissue removed 10 min after injection of India ink and cultured for 3 or 7 days, uptake of many ink particles by the fibroblasts was seen. By this experiment, the contribution of the blood-derived cells was completely excluded, and it is more distinctly shown that the corneal fibroblast has a strong endocytotic activity. The uptake and long-term storage of ink particles and latex beads by the corneal fibroblast are reactions that protect the organ without inflammation from the injury and harm by non-toxic foreign materials.