TOXICITY OF DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE (DMSO) TO HUMAN CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM IN VITRO

Abstract
Human cadaver corneas were obtained 10-12 h after clinical death, incubated in organ culture for 20-28 h and exposed to 2, 4, 6, 8, 6, 4 and 2% DMSO [dimethylsulfoxide] successively for 10 min at each concentration. Endothelial cell damage was recognized by morphological alterations during reformation of a coherent cell sheet after expulsion of damaged cells. DMSO caused latent cell damage at 31.degree. C. No cell damage was found at 4.degree. C when DMSO was dissolved in minimum essential medium (Eagle) plus Dextran or when DMSO was dissolved in human albumin and sucrose. DMSO was toxic at 4.degree. C in pure serum and in Dulbecco''s medium.