Water Permeability of Cat Corneal Endothelium in vitro

Abstract

A water permeability study of the isolated cat corneal endothelium was performed with the use of a newly designed Lucite chamber and modified experimental methods. The hydraulic conductivity of the cat endothelium was 9.3 ± 1.09 x 10^-7 cm. sec^-1 atm^-1. The Staverman reflection coefficient to NaCl of cat endothelium was 0.6. It was determined that the resistance to the passage of either water or small solutes is negligible in the swollen stroma. The results suggest that the intercellular space of the cat endothelium is less than that of the rabbit.