Vascularization of the rat cornea after prolonged zinc deficiency

Neovascularization of the anterior stroma of the rat cornea was associated with prolonged zinc deficiency (in this model). There was also an increase in the myelinated nerves of the cornea. Blood vessels were not observed in the corneas of the pair-fed and ad-libitum-fed control animals. The invading blood vessels were frequently associated with Schwann cells and neurites. Unmyelinated nerves were observed in the corneal stroma of all three experimental groups.