Response of the cornea to far ultraviolet light: an ultrastructural study.
Quantitative changes were measured and ultrastructural alterations were detected in rabbit corneas after exposure to a far ultraviolet irradiation (UV). Low dose exposure (105 - 8 x 105 erg/cm2) resulted one day later in a thicker epithelium and loss of the intercellular permeability barrier. In corneas exposed to higher doses (5 x 106 erg/cm2), the epithelium was considerably thinner one day later, whereas 4 days later it was of normal thickness and the endothelial cells became degenerated. The highest UV dose exposure used (a total of 20 x 106 erg/cm2 given in 4 equal daily doses) resulted in (1) swelling of the stroma and disorganization of the collagen fibers; (2) disappearance of the basement membrane; (3) degeneration of the endothelial cells; and (4) considerable reduction of epithelium thickness.
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000528:radiation effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D011817:Rabbits; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D003094:Collagen