Enzymatic activity of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the alkali-burned rabbit cornea.

Rabbit eyes burned with 1 n NaOH were studied for enzymatic activity by biochemical methods. The activity of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (E.C. 3.2.1.50), one of the hydrolases, was found to be significantly increased in corneal epithelium and stroma 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after alkali burns. The increase in enzyme activity seemed to be in correlation with the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) infiltration of the stroma, as found by histopathologic studies. Therefore the PMNs might be the source of the increasing activity of this enzyme after alkali burns.