Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Corneal Endothelial Function

ABSTRACT

It has been reported that ascorbic acid[AA]appears to be actively taken up by the corneal endothelium and protect the endothelium against harmful effects of the oxidative reactions. To investigate the effect of ascorbic acidon the corneal endothelial function, rabbit`s corneas were mounted in the in vitro specular microscope. Corneal endothelium was perfused with ascorbic acid, then switched to AA plus ouabain solution, and vice versa. Also, phloretin was perfused onto the endothelium with AA and ouabain. Andcorneal endothelium was perfused with GBR or AA solution followed by perfusion with ouabain. Corneal thickness was measured during the perfusion and the corneal swelling rate calculated. Corneal endothelial permeability was also measured after perfusion of ascorbic acid. Perfusion with AA showed no corneal swelling, but swelling rate was even lower than GBR control. Corneal endothelial permeability did not change upon AA perfusion. In corneas preperfused with ouabain, AA added to ouabain solution decreased corneal swelling rates induced by ouabain solution[19.9 vs. 40.5 micrometer/hr]. The corneas preperfused with AA also showed decreased swelling rates with subsequent perfusion of ouabain added to AA solution[21.7 vs.28.6 micrometer/ hr]. Phloretin inhibited the effect of AA.However, when ouabain was removed, the corneal swelling plateaued but did not return to baseline thickness in both AA and GBR perfusion.The results of this study showed that AA can increase corneal endothelial pump function and reduce corneal swelling caused by ouabain.