Abstract
This study is concerned with the morphological manifestations of ouabain treatment as reflected in corneal thickness and pinocytosis. Administration of ouabain in vivo or in vitro leads to corneal swelling and a marked reduction in the number of pinocytotic vesicles in the endothelium. A comparison of ouabain-treated, cold-inhibited, and neonatal corneas, as well as consideration of electron histochemical studies on ATPase distribution in the cornea, suggests that a common mechanism may underlie the morphological changes and that the pinocytotic transport system in the corneal endothelium may be dependent on an electrolyte transport system for proper function.