Biochemical analysis of the cornea stored in steroid medium.

We wished to measure changes in the tissue mass and the deoxyribonucleic acid and protein content of guinea pig corneas stored for up to 21 days in tissue culture medium with or without 1 microM hydrocortisone. Full-thickness discs 4 mm in diameter were cut from the corneas for measurement of the three variables. Whether the disc came from a steroid-treated cornea or not, and whether it came from a fresh cornea, hydrocortisone did not appear to have any adverse effect on the features studied.