Regeneration of the human corneal endothelium.

The ability of the human corneal endothelium to regenerate is studied with the scanning electron microscope through examples of corneal diseases and penetrating keratoplasties. This study does not lead to final conclusions on the possibilities of regeneration of the human corneal endothelium but allows us to say that: --regeneration occurs through size increasing and deformation of the remaining cells. --the increase in number and size of surface microvilli may simply indicate a state of cell activation. --the presence of two nuclei in one cell is probably obtained by amitotic division but no complete mitosis has been seen. --Displacement of endothelial cells is a real progression and the cell is able to overcome obstacles. --the fibroblastic transformation of the endothelial cells is present in man but this may simply represent the migrating form of the cells.