Enzymatic disaggregation of the infected rat cornea

Analysis of cell populations in the cornea may be performed rapidly and accurately employing the technique of enzymatic disaggregation. To illustrate this method normal rat corneas and corneas infected 24 and 48 hours previously with Staphylococcus aureus were disaggregated in a solution containing pancreatin and collagenase. The cells released were counted and identified morphologically. These results were compared to cell counts made from histologic sections. Over 95% of the corneal cells were viable after the disaggregation and leukocytes obtained from the infected corneas retained their phagocytic capacity. This approach allows sensitive analysis of cell populations in a wide range of corneal conditions, including infection and allograft rejection.