Epithelial characteristics of the endothelium in Chandler's syndrome.

The cells lining the posterior surface of a corneal button obtained from a patient with Chandler's syndrome were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and by keratin staining. The ultrastructural appearance with intracytoplasmic 8 nm filaments, desmosomes, microvillous projections, and positive keratin staining suggests that these may be epithelial cells. Clinical specular microscopy of this cornea prior to transplantation revealed characteristic changes that were seen to be related to the density of microvillous projections on the cell membrane.