Histochemical localization of hydrolytic enzymes during corneal graft reaction.

We studied hydrolytic enzymes in the graft bed during the corneal graft reaction. Two enzymes, beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase, were used as the markers of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes. These were traced histochemically at various times before and after the onset of the graft reaction in a corneal xenograft model. Results showed a relationship between the degree of graft opacity, cellular infiltration and enzyme localization. It appeared that during the early stages of graft reaction, the granulocytes, and during the late stages, the agranulocytes were the main source of the enzymes.