Regional differences in phagocytosis by the corneal endothelium in the domestic cat

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Abstract
The phagocytosis of IgG-coated latex microspheres by the central and peripheral regions of the corneal endothelium in the domestic cat was investigated by organ culture. The endothelium was exposed to 1.357 × 107 microspheres/mm2, and counts of ingested microspheres were made by scanning electron microscopy. Initial assessments of phagocytosis over 8-h and 24-h periods of culture gave extremely low levels of incorporation. Therefore, subsequently, a 48-h period of culture was adopted. Microsphere uptake levels per square millimeter over 48 h were as follows : peripheral endothelium 6,021 ± 3,162; central endothelium 2,000 ± 1,529; overall 4,011 ± 3,294. The greater uptake of microspheres in the peripheral cornea was statistically significant (P < 0.002, pairedt-test). The involvement of microvilli in phagocytosis by corneal endothelial cells was proposed.