DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS FROM CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL HUMAN CORNEA IN PRIMARY CULTURE AND AFTER SUBCULTURE

Several methods for isolation and cultivation of human corneal endothe lial cells have been described during the last few decades. In contras t to the situation in vivo, the cultured cells show mitogenic activity but often lose their typical morphological appearance. In this paper, we describe a technique to isolate and cultivate morphologically unch anged endothelium from the human cornea. This method revealed differen t characteristics of endothelial cells according to their position wit hin the human cornea. Endothelial cells isolated from the central part have a morphology similar to that of cells in vivo (i.e., they are de nsely packed and show no mitogenic activity). In contrast, endothelial cells derived from the peripheral part of the cornea are characterize d by mitogenic activity but their cell-to cell attachment seems to be less tight than in, vivo. The significance of these two different endo thelial cell types for wound healing in the human cornea is discussed.