The occurrence of serotonergic nerves in the bovine cornea.

Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrochemical detection, serotonin and its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) were identified in crude perchloric acid extracts from bovine cornea. In addition, dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline were identified. Through the use of immunohistochemical procedures it was established that the serotonin is localized in nerve fibers in the cornea and they were always found subepithelially or in the stroma. The occurrence of serotonergic fibres in the cornea suggests that the amine has a specific functional role in this tissue.