[Distribution of conjunctival goblet cells and observation of goblet cells after conjunctival autotransplantation in rabbits].

Conjunctival goblet cells are essential for maintaining a normal ocular surface and important for recovering a diseased ocular surface. However, how goblet cells in conjunctival epithelium evolve after transplantation are uncertain. We experimented with albino rabbits to study the distribution of goblet cells in normal conjunctiva. We performed autograftings of conjunctiva which contained many goblet cells on the sclera of albino rabbits, and made histological observations on how goblet cells evolved after transplantation. The results were as follows. 1. Goblet cells in the normal rabbits were most abundant at the lid margin of both upper and lower tarsal conjunctiva. 2. We made autograftings of conjunctiva on the sclera of albino rabbits. The goblet cells on the transplanted conjunction disappeared for a short time on the 3rd day after transplantation. On the 7th day and onwards they reappeared, and by the 14th day a large number of goblet cells were observed. 3. Between the 7th and 14th day after autografting, epithelial differentiation of the grafted conjunctiva occurred.