Intracellular Potentials of the Corneal Epithelium

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Abstract
Ehlers, N. Intracellular potentials of the corneal epithelium. Acta physiol. scand. 1970. 78. 471–477.The potential and resistance profiles through the rabbit and cat corneal epithelium were studied by means of microelectrodes. Negative intracellular potentials were recorded in all experiments. A transepithelial potential difference was regularly found only in rabbits, the inside being 10–15 mV positive in relation to the outside. Positively directed peaks were recorded inside the epithelium, which reached but never exceeded the level of the inside potential. The number of these peaks increased when epithelial oedema was produced by increasing the transcorneal hydrostatic pressure difference. In consequence, the peaks are believed to represent intercellular spaces. The electrode resistance was measured continuously and simultaneous with the potential. During penetration of the cytoplasm the resistance was about twice as high as in the bathing fluid, it increased further when cellular membranes were punctured, and especially when the basement membrane was penetrated.