The ciliary epithelium rests upon the folds of the ciliary processes. It consists of two layers of cells which appear structurally and functionally distinct. The basal membranes of the pigmented ciliary epithelial cells face the stroma, and the basal membranes of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells (NPCEC) abut the aqueous humor. The NPCEC is largely responsible for the formation of aqueous humor in the mammalian eye. They transfer solute from the stroma of the ciliary processes into the posterior chamber. The resulting osmotic gradient drives water from the stroma into the aqueous humor. It is only the NPCEC cells which form a complete permeability barrier, since they display tight junctions linking adjoining cells.HNPCEC from AcceGen Research Laboratories are isolated from human ciliary bodies. HNPCEC are cryopreserved at primary culture and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5×10^5 cells in 1 ml volume. HNPCEC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to cytokeratin-18, cytokeratin-19. HNPCEC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HNPCEC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings in the condition provided by AcceGen Research Laboratories.

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