Cell density of the corneal endothelium in human fetus by flat preparation

Abstract

Purpose: To count the number of the corneal endothelial cells per unit of tissue area in 25 human fetal eyes ranging from 12-40 weeks of gestation with the histologic method.

Methods: The endothelium including Descemet's membrane was stained with hematoxylin-eosin by the flat preparation method. We photographed the endothelium using light microscopy. The number of nuclei was counted on each photograph. A calibrated micrometer was photographed with the light microscopy, and this was used to measure the number of corneal endothelial cells per square millimeter.

Results: The prenatal endothelial cell density of the human cornea decreases rapidly from 14,095 cells/mm2 (12 weeks of gestation) to 6,820 cells/mm2 (40 weeks of gestation).

Conclusion: The estimate of the endothelial cell density at 12 weeks of gestation is twofold higher than the estimate at 40 weeks of gestation.