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Three Strategies to Induce Neurotrophic Keratitis and Nerve Regeneration in Murine Cornea

Three Strategies to Induce Neurotrophic Keratitis and Nerve Regeneration in Murine Cornea

Published on: December 8, 2023

Changes in mouse corneal epithelial innervation with age.

Cun Wang¹, Ting Fu, Chaoyong Xia

¹Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education and Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

|June 15, 2012

Summary

Corneal epithelial nerve fiber density changes occur in two stages post-birth, initially increasing with corneal surface area and then declining. This study quantifies these developmental changes in mouse corneas.

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Developmental Biology
Neuroscience

Background:

Corneal nerve regeneration is crucial for maintaining ocular surface integrity and function.
Understanding the developmental trajectory of corneal innervation is essential for diagnosing and treating neurotrophic keratopathies.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantitatively define the developmental changes in corneal epithelial nerve fibers in mice.
To analyze the temporal dynamics of nerve fiber and terminal density during postnatal development.

Main Methods:

Immunostaining of corneal whole mounts from 36 mice using an anti-β-III tubulin antibody.
Deconvolution microscopy for imaging and quantifying epithelial nerve fibers.
Calculation of subbasal nerve fiber and nerve terminal densities per square millimeter.

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Three Strategies to Induce Neurotrophic Keratitis and Nerve Regeneration in Murine Cornea

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Corneal and Limbal Alkali Injury Induction Using a Punch-Trephine Technique in a Mouse Model

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Main Results:

Corneal epithelial nerve terminal density and number showed asynchronous changes with corneal surface area.
Maximum nerve terminal density was observed at postnatal day 24, followed by a decline.
Subbasal nerve fiber density and number increased until postnatal month 2 before decreasing, with the subbasal nerve vortex forming by postnatal day 24.

Conclusions:

Corneal epithelial nerve fiber development post-birth occurs in two distinct stages: 1-2 months and 2-15 months.
During the first stage, nerve fiber density increases with corneal surface area.
In the second stage, nerve fiber density significantly decreases.