Biology in vitro of corneal epithelium and endothelium

Four main areas were explored: 1) the proper medium for culturing corneal tissue; 2) the effect of serum on tissue growth in vitro; 3) the interrelationships in vitro between corneal epithelium and endothelium; and 4) the biology of cultures of whole corneas (organ cultures). Modified Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM) proved to be an excellent culture fluid. Corneal tissue could be grown in MEM without serum or clot, thus providing a defined culture medium. The biology in vitro of outgrowths of multilayered corneal epithelium and monolayered corneal endothelium are discussed. Contact inhibition between epithelium and endothelium is demonstrated in whole corneal (organ) cultures.From the Laboratory of Ophthalmic Pathology, Scheie Eye Institute, and the Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Medical School.This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Training Grant T01-EV-0070-03 from the National Eye Institute.Candidate's thesis for membership in the American Ophthalmological Society, Accepted by the Committee on Thesis May 1975.