Abstract
The endothelium of isolated rabbit corneas was perfused with either a bicarbonate Ringer's solution, Kinsey Medium (KEI), or a glutathionebicarbonate Ringer's solution (GBR) in the perfusion chamber of the specular microscope. Changes in corneal thickness and endothelial pattern were monitored throughout the perfusion, and the corneas were fixed at the end of the perfusion for electron microscopic observation of the endothelial cells. Perfusion of bicarbonate Ringer's resulted in a mean increase in corneal thickness of 54 µ per hour, alteration of the endothelial cell pattern, and disruption of the endothelial cells by the end of the three-hour perfusion. In contrast, corneal thickness and normal endothelial pattern could be maintained during perfusion of KEI or GBR for three hours. Electron microscopy of the same corneas revealed no ultrastructural damage in the endothelium. The loss of endothelial pattern could be correlated not only with differences in the rate of corneal swelling but also with the extent of ultrastructural damage in the endothelial cells.