Glucose Oxidation in the Buphthalmic Rabbit Cornea

Abstract

Glucose oxidation was studied in the component layers of the buphthalmic (AXBU/J) rabbit cornea. Changes in intraocular pressure were found to precede both corneal opacification and alterations in corneal glucose oxidation. The greatest alterations in corneal glucose oxidation were measured in the advanced stages of buphthalmia when intraocular pressure is actually reduced compared to control rabbits. At this time (stage 2–3), marked alterations in glucose oxidation were found in each corneal layer. The buphthalmic epithelium is metabolically less active due to a reduction in the number of viable cells. The keratocytes of the buphthalmic stroma show significantly reduced rates of glucose oxidation by both the pentose shunt and Krebs cycle. In the endothelium, the total rate of glucose oxidation is reduced and a greater proportion of glucose is diverted into the pentose shunt.