Changes in Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity in Bovine Corneal Stroma and Epithelium in Response to in Vitro Toxic Challenges in the Enucleated Eye Test

Purpose To assess whether changes in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, as a marker of cell damage, could be detected in corneal stroma and corneal epithelium after toxicity measurements using the enucleated eye test (EET). Methods The corneal surface of isolated bovine eyes was continuously wetted with commercial balanced salt solution (BSS) over 4 h at 37°C and central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured. Initial 5‐min challenges were made with dilute solutions of benzalkonium chloride (up to 0.032%) or NaOH (up to 0.4 M). The residual LDH activity in the corneal epithelium and corneal stroma were then assessed. Results Dose‐dependent increases in CCT of up to 70% were measured. A strong correlation (r = –0.961) was found between increases in CCT and decreases in stromal LDH activity, but the correlation was much less (r = –0.512) for epithelial LDH activity. Conclusions LDH activity can be used as one marker for cell integrity in the corneal stroma and epithelium, although dose‐dependent correlations may not be high.