Variations in human corneal endothelial cell morphology and permeability to fluorescein with age

Exp Eye Res. 1988 Jul;47(1):27-41. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(88)90021-8.

Abstract

Fluorophotometry with topically applied fluorescein and endothelial cell photography were performed on 80 normal subjects (age 5-79 yr). Variations in endothelial cell morphology and function, flow of aqueous humor, and intraocular pressure were recorded. The mean endothelial cell size was 332.3 +/- 46.3 micron 2. A 28% increase in endothelial cell size was measured over the eight decades (r = 0.53, P less than 0.001). The coefficient of variation of cell size also increased with age (r = 0.41, P less than 0.001). The percentage of hexagonal endothelial cells decreased by 14% (r = -0.48, P less than 0.001), while the percentage of pentagonal and heptagonal cells increased by 50% (r = 0.44, P less than 0.001) and 40% (r = 0.33, P less than 0.002), respectively, with age. The mean endothelial permeability to fluorescein was 4.03 +/- 0.63 x 10(-4) cm min-1. A 23% increase in endothelial permeability with age was observed (r = 0.44, P less than 0.001). No change in central corneal thickness or endothelial pump rate was found. Flow of aqueous humor remained stable with age, despite a 25% increase in intraocular pressure (r = 0.50, P less than 0.001). Polarization of fluorescence of fluorescein in the corneal stroma decreased with age (r = -0.46, P less than 0.001). We conclude that with age the human corneal endothelium becomes morphologically less regular and may become more permeable to fluorescein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Anterior Chamber
  • Aqueous Humor / physiology
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Corneal Stroma / physiology
  • Endothelium, Corneal / cytology
  • Endothelium, Corneal / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein
  • Fluoresceins / pharmacokinetics*
  • Humans
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Fluoresceins
  • Fluorescein