Morphological studies on the regeneration of rabbit corneal endothelium under the influence of corticosteroids.

In adult albino rabbits, the influence of corticosteroids on the regeneration of the corneal endothelium after cryocoagulation was studied using light-, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy. The follow-up period varied from 10 h to 10 days. In the regenerating endothelium, both mitotic and amitotic cells division were seen. In the dexamethasone-treated eyes, the regeneration process seemed to be stimulated rather than inhibited. In five of six eyes, areas of hyperproliferation were found, consisting of numerous elongated cells that formed several cell layers. Most of these cells revealed an extensively developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus as well as numerous mitochondria. There were signs of secretory activity. The mechanism for the development of these multilayered hyperproliferation zones is unknown.