Bovine corneal endothelium in vitro : Elaboration and organization of a basement membrane

Abstract

Bovine corneal endothelial cells can be easily grown in culture using conventional techniques. The cultured cells closely resemble the parent, native endothelium. In culture the endothelium synthesizes and deposits, in a polar fashion, a well organized basement membrane that contains molecules which are characteristic of all basement membranes. Membrane deposition continues for at least a year and, during that time, it begins to acquire the unique, ordered substructure characteristic of the native membrane.