The reaction of the cornea in vivo and in vitro to thermal stimulation: a contribution to the thesis by Busse-Grawitz.
In a test series with 15 rabbits a so-called central keratitis by means of a redhot needle was set in the left and right eye. The cornea of the left eye was immediately extirpated under sterile conditions and was observed in the tissue culture for 6 days. The corresponding right eye of the first rabbit was left within the animal's body, later it was extirpated after 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2 hours etc. up to 11 days histologically examined. In the explants following results were obtained. After the lesion is set the puncture site is devoid of epithelium. A double wall of cells lies closely around the crater. One-and-one-half hours later these large cells with more or less variably segmented nuclei demonstrate a strong proliferation. The characteristic nucleus form, the weakly positive naphthol-ASD-chloracetateesterase-reaction and the variable peroxydase-reaction of these cells resemble quite closely leucocytes in phenomenology and ferment-histochemistry. We have therefore chosen the description leucocytoid cells. They are not leucocytes, but cells which originate from basal pluripotent epithelia of the cornea. The so-called central keratitis is not an inflammation in the sense of Marchand, it is rather a regenerative process. The thesis of Busse-Grawitz, that leucocytes in the cornea originate from collagen and elastic fibers or less than coccisized transitional forms, cannot be verified.
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D003094:Collagen; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D007249:Inflammation; D007962:Leukocytes; D009339:Needles; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D014945:Wound Healing
D003094:Collagen