The effects of aging and inflammation on corneal endothelial wound healing in rabbits.

After transcorneal freezing, the rates and patterns of corneal endothelial wound healing were compared in mature and young rabbits by autoradiographic analysis of 3H-thymidine incorporation and scanning electron microscopy. Healing was slower and less extensive in mature corneas than in young ones. Regardless of animal age, however, healing occurred by cell division and the migration of newly divided cells onto the wound surface. Spontaneously occurring severe inflammation appeared to reduce the ability of corneal endothelial cells to replicate their DNA.