Postnatal Cell Shape development of the Corneal Endothelium in Mice

• Main Author: Ojo, Victor Temidayo
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2017
• Subjects: Cornea endothelium; ZO-1; NCAM; apicolateral; basolateral; Life Sciences
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3301; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4741&context=etd

Corneal endothelial cells have been shown to possess a uniform polygonal and complex multipolar shape at their apical and basolateral surface respectively. We established a morphological timetable to study how this complex shape arises postnatally. Corneas were collected from mice between postnatal day 8 to postnatal day 35 and labelled with antibodies specific for ZO-1 and NCAM at apical and basolateral region, respectively. Images were collected using wide-field fluorescence microscopy and morphometrically analyzed. Results showed that apical cell sizes increase linearly over the first 3 weeks, plateauing at 4-5 weeks postnatally with increased regularity. Basolateral membrane surfaces remained relatively smooth prior to eyelid opening and thereafter begins developing showing differences in development from periphery to the center until about 4 weeks postnatally when the wavy processes get vivid. Results indicate concurrent and independent development at both poles of the corneal endothelium, with more complexity seen at the basolateral surface.