HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF OXIDATIVE AND DEPHOSPHORYLATING ENZYMES OF THE RABBIT EYE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Various groups of oxidative and dephosphorylating enzymes were studied in the conjunctiva, cornea, iris, irido-corneal angle, ocular muscles, sclera, choroid pigment, epithelium of the retina, and internal limiting membrane of the retina. Different degrees of activity for the various enzymes were shown by different components of the eye, indicating different levels of metabolic activity. The conjunctiva near the cornea is less enzymatically active than that further away from the cornea which contains mucous glands. The corneal endothelium was more active than the corneal epithelium. The stroma of the cornea and sclera was almost negative for most of the histochemical tests, indicating its low metabolic activity. The pupillary muscles were especially rich in monoamine oxidase activity. The irido-corneal angle (cells of meshwork) showed high positive activity for most of the enzymes; the choroid and internal limiting membrane gave strong positive results for most of the dephosphorylating group of enzymes. It is suggested that the internal limiting membrane and the choroid function as a metabolically active diffusion barrier, isolating the retina and protecting it from both intra-ocular and extra-ocular fluids.