Innervation of the cornea of monkeys and the effects of denervation.

Abstract

Preliminary results of an attempt to determine the sources of nerve fibers of the monkey cornea and the consequences of its denervation are reported. Keratitis neuroparalytica was observed on the second day after combined ophthalmic and maxillary neurectomies. It reached a peak on the third day and by the fifth day recovery was nearly complete without recurrence up to 106 days. Tarsorraphy delayed the development of keratitis neuroparalytica with poor recovery up to 28 days after sensory denervation. Coincidence of reduction and recovery of lacrimal secretion and corneal changes suggest that the former might be a factor in the production of keratitis neuroparalytica. Epithelial changes accompanying keratitis neuroparalytica were observed and described. Numerous stromal nerve fibers remained uanaffected four days after ophthalmic and maxillary neurectomies. There is a possibility that these fibers are from sources other than the trigeminal.