title: Does the number of cells in the cornea decrease with age? A biochemical study.
abstract: We used biochemical techniques to investigate whether the cornea becomes more acellular with age. Guinea pigs of different body weights (age) were killed. From each cornea, a central full-thickness button (4 mm in diameter) was punched out. The DNA content of the corneal buttons was determined. Using spleen cells, the DNA content per diploid cell of guinea pig was also estimated. It was found that as the body weights of the animals increased, the amount of DNA per corneal disc decreased. This indicated that as the animal grows older the total cellular content of the cornea is reduced.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size
chemical_list: D004247:DNA