The network structure of corneal fibroblasts in the rat as revealed by scanning electron microscopy.

The overall morphology of corneal fibroblasts in the rat was examined by scanning electron microscopy after removal of stromal connective tissue elements by tryptic digestion and HCl hydrolysis. Fibroblasts thus exposed were flattened and stellate cells with a diameter of about 10 micron and had a number of ramified cytoplasmic processes. The processes of neighboring fibroblasts contacted with each other to form an extensive and continuous network structure parallel to the plane of collagenous lamellae. The cellular network appears to constitute an integrated system which may be involved in the synchronized regulation of the metabolic and physiologic homeostasis for the maintenance of corneal transparency.