title: The mucinous layer of corneal endothelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to characterize the morphology of the mucinous layer on rabbit, bovine, owl, and human corneal endothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneoscleral buttons were fixed using cetylpyridinium chloride to stabilize "mucus" and the tissue was prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Photomicrographs were measured to determine the thickness of the endothelial and epithelial mucinous layer in the central cornea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endothelial mucinous layer was seen as a nearly uniform electrodense region on the apical aspect of the endothelium. It was found to be 0.9 microm, 0.9 microm, 0.9 microm, and 0.5 microm thick in rabbit, bovine, owl, and human, respectively. The owl endothelium had an additional less electrodense layer with a granular appearance and a thickness of about 200 microm. The mucinous layer on the epithelium was similar in appearance to that on the endothelium and across species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphologic similarity of the endothelial and epithelial mucinous layers is a serendipitous finding that should prove valuable in experimental design. Ultimately, it is hoped that studies of the posterior corneal surface will deepen our knowledge of endothelial protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. eungkkim@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cristol
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Edelhauser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D020305:Strigiformes
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins