The enucleated arterially perfused cat eye. I. Effects on protein permeability.

Protein permeability of the ciliary epithelium of enucleated arterially perfused cat eyes was studied. Tracer concentrations of 125I-albumin, in an arterial perfusate solution consisting of a balanced salt solution (BSS) without added colloid, was found in the anterior chamber fluid (AH) in a percentage similar to the AH/plasma ratio found for protein in the living cat eye. Stimulation of AH formation by acetylcholine plus eserine increased protein permeability markedly and by a similar amount in eyes perfused either with BSS or with 100% serum. These data indicate that arterial perfusion of the enucleated eye with BSS alone induces no gross abnormality of the blood-aqueous barrier.