Proliferation of corneal epithelial and endothelial cells in the trabecular region of human donor corneas in organ culture.

Thirty corneoscleral rings obtained after trephination of a 4- to 7.5-mm graft and 8 whole corneas with scleral rims were cultured up to 6 weeks. The corneal epithelium grew over the scleral rim and trabecula, and, after 3-4 weeks, was slowly invading the endothelial sheet. Endothelial cells did not show any evidence of migration unless the trabecula was removed. Even then, however, the endothelial growth was very limited and was soon suppressed by fast-growing epithelium.