Tomoyuki Inoue1, Takeshi Kobayashi2, Saori Nakao1, Yuko Hara1, Takashi Suzuki1, Yasuhito Hayashi1, Xiaodong Zheng3, Atsushi Shiraishi1, Yuichi Ohashi1. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan. 2. Department of Ophthalmology and Regenerative Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan Department of Ophthalmology and Regenerative Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To test our hypothesis about whether there is water migration in the horizontal corneal plane and investigate its developmental mechanism. METHODS: A fluorescein solution was intrastromally injected into normal and edematous corneas of rabbits, and the movement of the fluorescein solution was observed and recorded over time. RESULTS: In normal corneas, the water flow was characterized by a swirling movement from the center to the periphery in the stroma. The fluorescein solution ultimately spread and occupied the entire cornea, indicating horizontal intracorneal swirling of water. In contrast, when the corneal endothelia were injured by intracameral injection of a preservative to create corneal edema, no water migration occurred, suggesting that the integrity of the corneal endothelial function is essential for water migration. The water migration stopped with injection of a sodium-potassium pump inhibitor, indicating that the enzyme is necessary for physiologic water migration in the cornea. With recovery of corneal endothelial function, the water migration began, and focal edema remained in the periphery with no water migration in this edematous area. CONCLUSIONS: We report for the first time the presence of horizontal water migration in the cornea in a swirling pattern (i.e., intracorneal swirling migration of water, generated by the pump function in the corneal endothelial cells), which may supplement the conventional concept of development of corneal edema in the vertical plane. This dynamic water circulatory system may be involved in increasing the efficiency of the water transfer in the entire cornea. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.
PURPOSE: To test our hypothesis about whether there is water migration in the horizontal corneal plane and investigate its developmental mechanism. METHODS: A fluorescein solution was intrastromally injected into normal and edematous corneas of rabbits, and the movement of the fluorescein solution was observed and recorded over time. RESULTS: In normal corneas, the water flow was characterized by a swirling movement from the center to the periphery in the stroma. The fluorescein solution ultimately spread and occupied the entire cornea, indicating horizontal intracorneal swirling of water. In contrast, when the corneal endothelia were injured by intracameral injection of a preservative to create corneal edema, no water migration occurred, suggesting that the integrity of the corneal endothelial function is essential for water migration. The water migration stopped with injection of a sodium-potassium pump inhibitor, indicating that the enzyme is necessary for physiologic water migration in the cornea. With recovery of corneal endothelial function, the water migration began, and focal edema remained in the periphery with no water migration in this edematous area. CONCLUSIONS: We report for the first time the presence of horizontal water migration in the cornea in a swirling pattern (i.e., intracorneal swirling migration of water, generated by the pump function in the corneal endothelial cells), which may supplement the conventional concept of development of corneal edema in the vertical plane. This dynamic water circulatory system may be involved in increasing the efficiency of the water transfer in the entire cornea. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.
Entities:
Keywords:
corneal hydration; intracorneal water flow; water movement in cornea