DETERMINATION OF THE CONTENT OF WATER IN BOVINE CORNEAS BY DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY AND THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS

The 'bound', 'bulk', and total water contents in bovine corneas were i nvestigated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimet ric analysis. The amount of total water (expressed as a function of to tal wet mass) was observed to be 83.7 +/- 1.1 % using lyophilization a nd 84.1 +/- 0.8 % using thermogravimetric analysis. These values are n ot significantly different from one another, but some discrepancies ar e observed when these values are compared with the values reported in the literature, thus indicating a need for guidelines concerning sampl e handling and analysis of these tissues. The 'bound' water was observ ed to be 62.3 +/- 2.7 (% of total water) and the amount of 'bulk' wate r was calculated to be 20.8 +/- 2.5 (% of total water).