Endothelial repair of the canine cornea

After transcorneal cryodestruction of 90% of the total corneal endothelium in the dog, the endothelial regenerative capacity was studied, using biomicroscopy, endothelial specular microscopy, pachometry, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and autoradiography. Reestablishment of a continuous intact endothelial cell monolayer occurred at 6 weeks. Production of a thickened, multilaminar Descemet's membrane by endothelial and fibroblast-like cells was observed. Regenerating endothelial cells at the wound margin showed extensive formation of pseudopodia and incorporation of tritiated thymidine. Reendothelialization occurred by both mitotic division and enlargement and migration of remaining undamaged cells. The corneal endothelium of the young adult canine has marked regenerative potential, in contrast to that described for persons and cats.