title: [The corneal epithelial barrier].
abstract: The corneal epithelium is an stratificated pavimentous epithelium. The epithelial cells are grouped in 3 levels: superficial cells, intermediate cells, basal cells. The superficial cells are solidarised by there type of junctional complexes: desmosomes, impermeable junctions, and communicating junctions. Because the corneoconjunctival surface is colonised by microorganisms and every minimal lesions can favorise an infection, the epithelial integrity plays a protective role. The corneal epithelium constitute the main way of intraocular penetration of topical drugs. There are two ways of drugs penetration through corneal epithelium: intracell and pericell way. The penetration speed was influenced by ocular factors (epithelial lesions) and drugs features (solubility, molecular mass, molecular structure, pH, pK, concentration, contact time).
authors.affiliation: Secţia de Oftalmologie, Spitalul Militar Central Bucureşti.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apostol
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cârstocea
mesh_terms: D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans
vernacular_title: Bariera epiteliului cornean.