Experimental studies on the growth of cultured epithelium and endothelium of rabbit cornea exposed to low temperature.

On the basis of the investigations performed it was shown that cryoapplication of the cornea by the original Krwawicz's method influences temporarily the proliferative and migratory ability to epithelial and endothelial corneal cells in tissue culture. The endothelium is more sensitive to the action of low temperature and recovers its normal dynamics of growth 10--12 days after application of cold while the epithelium requires for this only 4--5 days. The ability of migration, DNA synthesis and mitosis in conditions of tissue culture of the corneal epithelium and endothelium, after their exposure to low temperature, are not abolished, but they are suppressed for a longer period than the duration of the described histopathological lesions.