Selective growth of rabbit corneal epithelial cells in culture and basement membrane collagen synthesis.

Selective isolation of rabbit corneal epithelial cells was achieved with a medium containing D-valine. Long-term cultures of the epithelial cells synthesize basement membrane-type pro-collagen doublet chains of 160,000 and 180,000 daltons and a higher-molecular-weight species at 280,000 daltons. Some of these components are disulfide-linked. These peptides gave rise to a single pepsin-resistant collagen chain of approximate molecular size of 115,000 daltons.