Morphological analysis of the corneal endothelium in eyes of dogs using specular microscopy

Abstract

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 28(9):427-430, setembro 2008 RESUMO.-[Análise morfológica com microscopia especular do endotélio corneal em olhos de cães.] Foram estudados 20 olhos de 10 cães sem raça definida, machos e fêmeas com 6 anos de idade. A morfologia das células do endotélio da córnea foi analisada utilizando-se microscópio especular de contato. Foram estudadas as regiões central e periférica da córnea. De cada região da córnea foram realizadas três micrografias. De cada micrografia foram analisadas no mínimo 100 células endoteliais. Foram obtidos os valores do polimegatismo e pleomorfismo. O endotélio corneano de cães caracterizou-se por uma monocamada de células poligonais uniformes em tamanho e forma. A forma predominante das células endoteliais foi hexagonal. O índice de polimegatismo foi 0.22. Este estudo demonstrou que a morfologia das células do endotélio da córnea de cães é semelhante à observada em humanos. INTRODUCTIONThe corneal endothelium is a single layer of polygonal cells on the inner surface of the cornea. The endothelial integrity and metabolic activity are essential for continuous maintenance of corneal dehydration and transparency (Waring et al. 1982). Ageing results in a gradual reduction in endothelial cell density and an increase in cell area variability in those species that exhibit minimal mitotic potential (Jackson et al. 1995). Furthermore, morphological changes of endothelium associated with cell loss occur in many conditions including corneal dystrophies, keratoconus, glaucoma, uveitis, blunt ocular trauma, cataract ex-

Morphology of endothelial cells from different regions of the equine cornea

“…The polymorphism among the studied quadrants was not significantly different, with similar values between 52.23% and 64.54%. The regular pattern of polygonal cells with a predominantly hexagonal shape assessed by optical microscopy was similar to that described in other species (SAILSTAD & PEIFFER, 1981;PEIFFER et al, 1981;MORITA, 1985;PIGATTO et al, 2008;FRANZEN et al, 2010), which corroborates the results in the present study.…”

“…Using images obtained by specular microscopy, it is possible to examine the corneal endothelium and obtain data related to endothelial cell density and morphology. This technique has been used to quantify endothelial parameters in humans and other animal species including pigs (TAMAYO-ARANGO et al, 2009), rabbits (SAILSTAD & PEIFFER, 1981;OJEDA et al, 2001), dogs (GWIN et al, 1982;PIGATTO et al, 2006;RODRIGUES et al, 2006), horses (ANDREW et al, 2001;LEDBETTER & SCARLETT, 2009), llamas and alpacas (ANDREW et al, 2002), chinchillas (BERCHT et al, 2015), and cats (FRANZEN et al, 2010), among others. The high cost of specular microscopes and the difficulty in obtaining good images in injured endothelial areas are common challenges or barriers to the use of this technique (ANDREW et al, 2001;PIGATTO et al, 2005a;SAAD et al, 2008).…”

“…enucleated eye balls have proven that it is possible to evaluate the corneal endothelium within six hours post-mortem without structural changes occurring (ANDREW et al, 2001;PIGATTO et al, 2006;RODRIGUES et al, 2006;PIGATTO et al, 2008;FRANZEN, et al, 2010).…”

Ophthalmic parameters in adult Shih Tzu dogs

“…The cell area was greater than that described by RODRIGUES et al (2006), and similar to that found by NAGATSUYU et al (2014). Hexagonality percent values were higher than those reported by NAGATSUYU et al (2014), but similar to those found by PIGATTO et al (2008). The differences between the means found in the present study and those found by ROBERTS et al (2006) are assumed to be due to the differences between the methods used and the breeds studied.…”

Effects of intracameral brilliant blue on the corneal endothelium of swine: in vitro study

“…The previous studies conducted using SEM demonstrated that the corneal endothelial cells have cilia and microvillus (Tuft & Coster 1990, Pigatto et al 2005, Pigatto et al 2008. Humans and rabbits have twenty to thirty microvilli in the cell superficies, and these structures react to tox- ic substances changing their sizes (Collin & Collin 1998).…”