OBJECTIVES

Corneal endothelium plays an important role in the maintenance of corneal transparency and stability. The aim of this study was to compare cell density and mean cell area between central and peripheral regions of corneal endothelial in adult normal dogs.

MATERIALS

Twenty eyes from ten mixed-breed normal dogs euthanatized for reasons unrelated to this study were used. The dogs weighed between 10 and 15 kg and were between 4 and 6 years of age. Eyes were examined to determine that they did not have visible ocular defects and transported to the laboratory in moist chambers containing physiologic saline. Eyes were examined immediately after dogs were euthanatized. Using a contact specular microscope (Bio-optics LSM-2100C), the corneal endothelial was examined in the central and peripheral corneal regions. Three images were obtained from each regions contained at least 100 cells within the counting frame. The images were input into an endothelial cell analysis system. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Student test. Values of p < 0,01 were considered significant.

RSULTS

Values did not differ significantly between right and left eyes from the same dog. Mean density of corneal endothelial cell was 2,555 cells/mm2 in the central and 2,875 cells/mm2 in the peripheral region. Mean density of endothelial cells in the peripheral region of the cornea was significantly higher than mean density of the central region of the cornea. Mean cell area of corneal endothelial was 394,35 micrometers square in the central and 351,93 micrometers square in the peripheral region. Mean cell area of endothelial cells in the peripheral region of the cornea was significantly less than mean cell area of the central region of the cornea.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the distribution of density and mean cell area were not uniform between the central and peripheral areas of corneal endothelial cells in eyes of normal dogs.