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Review
. 2011;6(5):e19483.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019483. Epub 2011 May 13.

Cell pattern in adult human corneal endothelium

Affiliations
Review

Cell pattern in adult human corneal endothelium

Carlos H Wörner et al. PLoS One. 2011.

Abstract

A review of the current data on the cell density of normal adult human endothelial cells was carried out in order to establish some common parameters appearing in the different considered populations. From the analysis of cell growth patterns, it is inferred that the cell aging rate is similar for each of the different considered populations. Also, the morphology, the cell distribution and the tendency to hexagonallity are studied. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that this phenomenon is analogous with cell behavior in other structures such as dry foams and grains in polycrystalline materials. Therefore, its driving force may be controlled by the surface tension and the mobility of the boundaries.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The image on the left shows typical endothelial cells.
On right, a two-dimensional foam is shown. Note the similitude of the outlines and the difference in scale.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Mean size kinetics reported in the literature.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Mean size kinetics corresponding to USA and Japan adults.
Slopes for both cases are indicated in the figure.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Cell fraction distribution.
The experimental points correspond to an analysis of Schimmelpfennig and Stoker and Schoessler's data. Also shown is the log-normal fitting.

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