Corneal endothelial cell morphology of normal dogs in different ages

Animal Models in Eye Research: Focus on Corneal Pathologies

The eye is a complex sensory organ that enables visual perception of the world. The dysfunction of any of these tissues can impair vision. Conduction studies on laboratory animals are essential to ensure the safety of therapeutic products directly applied or injected into the eye to treat ocular diseases before eventually proceeding to clinical trials. Among these tissues, the cornea has unique homeostatic and regenerative mechanisms for maintaining transparency and refraction of external light, which are essential for vision. However, being the outermost tissue of the eye and directly exposed to the external environment, the cornea is particularly susceptible to injury and diseases. This review highlights the evidence for selecting appropriate animals to better understand and treat corneal diseases, which rank as the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide. The development of reliable and human-relevant animal models is, therefore, a valuable research tool for understanding and translating fundamental mechanistic findings, as well as for assessing therapeutic potential in humans. First, this review emphasizes the unique characteristics of animal models used in ocular research. Subsequently, it discusses current animal models associated with human corneal pathologies, their utility in understanding ocular disease mechanisms, and their role as translational models for patients.

A dose-escalation ex vivo study on the effects of intracameral benzalkonium chloride in rabbits

Background

Rabbits are currently not a good model for studying diseases of the corneal endothelium because their corneal endothelial cells (CECs) maintain a high proliferative capacity throughout almost all their life. Addressing this particular feature might allow the use of this species for such a purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the corneal endothelial injury after intracameral benzalkonium chloride (BAC) injection into rabbit eyes ex vivo, and to establish the most suitable starting dose for an in vivo study aimed at developing an animal model of corneal endothelial disease.

Results

Forty rabbit eyes obtained postmortem by transconjunctival enucleation were divided into 8 groups according to the injected compound: Control (no injection), BSS, and increasing BAC concentrations (0.005%, 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%). At 0, 6, 24 and 48 h, ophthalmologic examination of the anterior segment, pachymetry and specular microscopy were performed, and corneas were finally vital-stained and observed under the light microscope to assess the CECs morphology and mortality rate. When compared to BSS, CECs density started to decrease significantly at 0.025% BAC concentration, while mean cell area, corneal edema and corneal thickness began to increase significantly at 0.05%, 0.005% and 0.1% BAC concentrations, respectively. Concentrations of 0.05% BAC and above caused significant increases in CECs pleomorphism (decreased hexagonality) and mortality, compared to control and BSS.

Conclusions

Ex vivo intracameral BAC injection induces corneal endothelial toxicity in rabbits. However, confirmatory in vivo studies are required to develop the desired model, with 0.05% BAC being a suggested starting point.

Age-related changes of corneal endothelial cell in healthy Chinese tree shrew measured by non-contact specular microscope

AIM

To determine the impact of age on the morphology of endothelial cells and central corneal thickness (CCT) in Chinese tree shrew.

METHODS

One-hundred and twenty eyes of 60 healthy Chinese tree shrews were studied. Based on age, the tree shrews were divided into four groups. After general anesthesia, the images of endothelium were acquired using non-contact specular microscope Topcon 3000P. Eight parameters of corneal endothelial cells were measured by built-in software, including CCT, endothelial cell density (ECD), percent hexagonality (HG%), coefficient of variability (CV), size of minimal cell (Smin), size of maximal cell (Smax), average cells size (Savg) and size standard deviation (Ssd). Data were analyzed using STATA software. The differences of eight parameters among groups and correlations with age were analyzed.

RESULTS

In all studied animals, the average CCT was 249.6±20.29 µm (202-301 µm), ECD was 3080.72± 460.76 cells/mm² (1239.6-4047.6 cells/mm²) and CV was 29.10±7.60 (13.6-54.6). CV was significantly different among different groups (P<0.001). Strong correlation with age was found in ECD, Smax, Savg, Ssd and CV.

CONCLUSION

Cornea of Chinese tree shrews had half CCT of human cornea and similar ECD, CV and size of corneal endothelial cells. Young adult tree shrews had higher ECD, HG% and low CV. ECD, Smax, Savg, Ssd and CV correlated with age significantly.

Effects of intracameral ascorbic acid on the corneal endothelium of dogs undergoing phacoemulsification

OBJECTIVE

Cataracts are the most common ocular disorder in dogs. Phacoemulsification is the preferred treatment method among ophthalmologists, but the cellularity of the endothelium must be considered for its success, as endothelial lesions may produce permanent corneal decompensation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intracameral ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant, on the corneal endothelium of dogs undergoing phacoemulsification.

ANIMAL STUDIED

In all, 40 eyes from 20 dogs, males and females from 7 to 12 years of age, were assessed for mature cataracts.

PROCEDURES

Two groups were formed (n = 20): Group 1 (G1) received a balanced salt solution (BSS), whereas Group 2 (G2) received sterile ascorbic acid diluted in a BSS, at a final concentration of 0.001 m ascorbic acid. The corneal endothelium was assessed via non-contact specular microscopy at multiple time points before and after phacoemulsification. Cell density (cells/mm² ) and area (mm² ), corneal thickness (mm), hexagonality, and the coefficient of variation of cell size were all assessed. P values equal to or less than 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

With respect to the density of endothelial cells, both groups showed losses, but they were less severe in G2. There were no differences in corneal thickness. Hexagonality decreased significantly in the postoperative period in G1. Also in G1, the coefficient of variation of cell size increased significantly.

CONCLUSION

According to the results obtained, ascorbic acid minimizes cellular losses in the corneal endothelium.

Intraocular pressure, specular microscopy, and prostaglandin E2 concentration in dogs with mature and hypermature cataract

This study aimed to evaluate and correlate intraocular pressure (IOP), endothelial cell density (CD), and hexagonality (HEX), and the aqueous humor prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) concentration in dogs with mature (MG, n = 8) and hypermature (HG, n = 8) cataracts. Eight laboratory beagles with no ocular abnormalities were included as a control group (CG). The IOP was measured using a digital applanation tonometer. Noncontact specular microscopy was used to evaluate CD and HEX. Samples of aqueous humor were used to determine prostaglandin E2 concentration using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Data were compared by anova and Bonferroni's multiple comparison test, and possible correlations among the PGE2 aqueous concentration and corneal endothelium cell parameters were assessed by Person's test (P < 0.05). Average values of IOP (P = 0.45) and CD (P = 0.39) were not significantly different between MG, HM, and CG. Average values of HEX were lower, and PGE2 concentration was increased in the MG and HG in comparison with CG (P < 0.05); however, such parameters did not change significantly between MG and HG (P > 0.05). PGE2 values did not correlate with IOP, CD, and HEX in any group (P > 0.05). Although there were a small number of dogs studied, our results demonstrated that cataract progression from mature to hypermature did not have a significant change in PGE2 aqueous concentration, IOP, corneal endothelial cell count, or morphology. In addition, PGE2 concentration was not correlated with parameters of the corneal endothelium or IOP in dogs with mature or hypermature cataracts.

Light and electron microscopic evaluation of canine corneal endothelium following CO2 photokeratotomy

OBJECTIVE

To determine using light and scanning electron microscopy if treatment with CO2 photokeratotomy alters the corneal endothelium in healthy dogs.

PROCEDURE

Eight surgery laboratory dogs were determined to be free of ocular abnormalities. Under general anesthesia, the left eye of each dog was treated in a quadrant from 12 to 3 o'clock with the CO(2) laser in a defocused mode. The right eye served as a control. There were four treatment groups, each with 2 dogs: group 1 (2 W, 0.1 J/s, 0.8 mm tip), group 2 (3 W, 0.3 J/s, 0.8 mm tip), group 3 (2 W, 0.04 J/s NovaScan), group 4 (3 W, 0.06 J/s, NovaScan). The 0.8 mm tip delivered a power density of 382 W/cm(2) or 573 W/cm(2), at 2 or 3 watts respectively. The NovaScan handpiece delivered a power density of 30 W/cm(2) or 40 W/cm(2), at 2 or 3 Watts respectively. Following euthanasia, right and left corneas including a 2-mm scleral rim were harvested and fixed in commercial grade Karnovsky's fixative. One piece of cornea was processed routinely, embedded in Embed 812 resin, sectioned at 1 um, stained with toluidine blue and evaluated with the light microscope. A separate piece of each cornea was routinely processed and examined with a JEOL 6400 scanning electron microscope (SEM) at 20 KV.

RESULTS

No changes in endothelial cell morphology were detected by light microscopy in the sections examined. SEM indicated normal endothelial cell morphology in control eyes with presumed artifactual changes at the corneal free margin (4/8 eyes). Multiple punctate to linear regions of endothelial cell destruction were observed in 6/8 laser-treated corneas. A significant increase in corneal thickness ranging from 1.90 to 37.28% was observed in all laser treated corneas. This increase in thickness correlated linearly with the degree of endothelial damage. Ultrastructural findings also correlated with postoperative clinical findings.

CONCLUSION

CO2 laser photokeratotomy alters corneal endothelial cell morphology and thickness.