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Effect of pH on potential difference and short circuit current in the isolated human cornea

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Summary

Transcorneal potential difference (PD) and short circuit current (SCC) measurement were performed on isolated human, Rhesus monkey and rabbit cornea preparations. In the isolated human and monkey corneas a mean transcorneal PD of 1–3 mV and a mean SCC of 2–4 μA · cm−2 exists. Both values were small but within the same range as data obtained in other isolated cornea preparations. PD and SCC were found to be pH sensitive in all three species. When the bathing solutions were kept at a pH 7.6 polarity of human, monkey and rabbit cornea was endothelium positive with respect to epithelium. In human cornea PDmax was 11.5 mV and SCCmax 5.1 μA · cm−2. At pH 8.6 (bicarbonate Ringers solution + air polarity of human and monkey cornea was endothelium negative. In the rabbit cornea the endothelium was still positive, even more positive than at pH 7.6. In human cornea at pH 8.6 PDmax slightly decreased and SCCmax increased.

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Fischer, F., Voigt, G., Liegl, O. et al. Effect of pH on potential difference and short circuit current in the isolated human cornea. Pflugers Arch. 349, 119–131 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586623

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