Human corneal endothelial cell density after an in vitro imitation of elevated intraocular pressure.

Normal human cadaver corneas were mounted in test chambers 10-52 h post mortem, regenerated for 24 h in a modified tissue culture medium, and exposed to a laboratory imitation of elevated intraocular pressure. The endothelial cell density was determined before application of the pressure and after 24 h of culture without a pressure difference between the anterior and the posterior corneal surfaces. Pressure differences of 160 and 80 mmHg maintained for 8 and 72 h did not lead to decreased endothelial cell densities.