Regulation of corneal endothelial barrier function by adenosine, cyclic AMP, and protein kinases.

Abstract

Adenosine, through increasing cAMP, decreases permeability of the corneal endothelium. This effect, rather than a change in the active transport (fluid pump) mechanism, is responsible for the promotion of deturgescence and maintenance of lower steady state thickness of corneas exposed to adenosine. The mechanism may involve the phosphorylation state of cytoskeletal proteins and seems to be dependent on an undisturbed environment of monovalent ions.