Abstract
The distribution of ATPase activity in adult and 7-day-old rabbit corneas has been studied by electron microscopic-histochemical techniques. In the corneal endothelium, the lead phosphate end product of the ATPase reaction is localized at the lateral margins of the cells and in the intercellular spaces. This activity is first demonstrable at 7 days. Pinocytotic vesicles, even those clearly containing ThO2 marker, show no nucleotide phosphatase activity. Epithelial ATPase is less fixation resistant than endothelial ATPase, but, after short glutaraldehyde fixation, end product is localized in the intercellular spaces.