Fresh isolates of neonatal human corneal endothelial cells were maintained in tissue culture using a technique employing collagen-coated, dextran-based microcarrier beads. This method provides large yields of endothelial cells suitable for biochemical and/or transplant studies without exposing the cells to enzymatic passage. Our results suggest that microcarrier culture of human corneal endothelial cells can provide a usefulin vitrosystem for the growth and maintenance of actively mitotic cells.