Metabolic inhibitors and glucose oxidation in developing chick cornea.

Abstract Stages 40 to 45 is a critical period of corneal deturgescence and development of transparency in the chick embryo. Glucose uptake, incorporation, and oxidation were studied in the chick cornea during this period and the effects of several inhibitors on these variables were tested. Corneal 14 CO 2 formation is constant between stages 38 and 45 but rises after hatching. Glucose uptake and incorporation increases between stage 38 and 40, is constant between stage 40 and 45, and increases again after hatching. Both DON, an inhibitor of proteoglycan synthesis, and actinomycin D had little effect on glucose uptake and incorporation by corneas at stages 40 and 45. Puromycin, on the other hand, significantly decreased glucose incorporation by the corneas at stages 40 and 45. The results indicate that much of the glucose taken up is utilized for protein synthesis which appears to be especially important during this period of corneal development.