Effect of lysosomes on corneal endothelium: an in vivo study.

Rabbit peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocyte lysosomes were injected into the anterior chamber. The cornea was studied in paraffin cross-sections. To study the corneal endothelium, fiat preparations were made. Nitroblue tetrazolium staining was used to study endothelial cell viability. The mitotic activity of the endothelium was estimated by tritiated thymidine incorporation. The corneas of lysosome-injected eyes were edematous and their endothelium showed cellular pleomorphism and metachromatism. Increased mitotic activity, indicating reparative response secondary to the cell damage, was observed in the endothelium of lysosome-injected eyes.