Topographic distribution of water in rhesus monkey vitreus.

The topographic distribution of total water content was measured by thermogravimetric analysis in 10 rhesus monkey vitreous bodies. The distribution of the freezable water content in the same vitreous bodies was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The nonfreezable water content (bound water) showed a decreasing gradient along the optic axis from lens to fovea; an opposite trend than that found in bovine vitreus. The nonfreezable water content is 25% lower in rhesus monkey than in bovine vitreus which is attributed to the syneresis existent in the rhesus monkey vitreus.