Tissue oxygen uptake from the atmosphere by a new, noninvasive polarographic technique with application to corneal metabolism.

A standard Clark electrode has been modified to continuously monitor the PO2 in a thin, disk shaped reservoir membrane mounted on the electrode membrane surface. In vitro tests were conducted to determine the proportionality constant between the rate of change of reservoir PO2 and the flux of O2 out of the reservoir. The device was then used to determine the corneal O2 uptake on proptosed eyes of previously sacrificed rabbits. Our average measured uptake at 20 degrees C, 1.7 microliter/cm2.hr, agrees with the value 2.3 microliters/cm2.hr calculated from a diffusion analysis of the cornea utilizing literature values of the parameters at 37 degrees C for the three component layers of the cornea when they are adjusted for temperature to 20 degrees C.