Growth and characterization of rabbit corneal cells in vitro.

Primary organ cultures of rabbit corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium were established by microdissection. Secondary cultures of epithelial cells, keratocytes, and endothelial cells were established by serial passage. The doubling time for epithelial cells and keratocytes was 18 h, and endothelial cells doubled their number in 5 days. Ultrastructural studies demonstrated characteristic morphological, nuclear, and cytoplasmic features of corneal epithelial cells, keratocytes, and endothelial cells and confirmed the identity of the cell lines. The purity of the three distinct cell types was ascertained by indirect immunofluorescence techniques, using antibodies against keratin, which identified epithelial cells, and fibronectin, which identified keratocytes and endothelial cells. The indirect immunofluorescence technique represents a simple method to screen an aliquot of a cell suspension and determine the purity of corneal cells grown in vitro.