Abstract:

Objective Our aim was to observe the histogenesis, cellular proliferation and apoptosis of the mouse cornea. Methods A total of 120 mice were used in the study. HE staining and DAPI staining were used to observe the general structure of the mouse cornea. Brdu detetion and immunofluorescent labeling were carried out to study corned proliferating cell, stem cells apoptic cells. Caspase-8 immunofluorescent staining was uesd to detect corneal apoptotic cells. Results During embryonic development and early postnatal stage, the stroma layer was observed in the developing cornea. About P14, the corneal epithelial cell layer began to proliferate and differentiate into two layers, with differentiation of endothelial cells. At P30 the six-layer structure of the cornea was identified. BrdU positive cells were mainly located in fibroblasts of the stroma layer and observed in the corneal epithelial and endothelial cell layers after birth. With the development of the cornea, at about P10, the BrdU-positive cells existed only in the corneal epithelial cell layer and disappeared in other layers.PCNA-positive cells were scattered in all layers of the cornea during the early development and distributed evenly in the basal corneal epithelial cell layer after P14. Apoptosis of cells was observed at every layer during early corneal development. Conclusion Corneal development is consistent with the formation of its photoreceptor function, and corneal stem cell proliferation is related to its structural repair. A large number of apoptotic cells are involved in the structural remodeling of the cornea.

Key words: Cornea, Genesis, Stem cell proliferation, Remodeling, Immunofluorescence, Mouse