Original Paper

Electron Microscopy of the Canine Corneal Basement Membranes
George A. Abrams^a, Ellison Bentley^a, Paul F. Nealey^b, Christopher J. Murphy<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, and
^bDepartment of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisc., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Cells Tissues Organs 2002;170:251-257 (DOI: 10.1159/000047929)

  Key Words

• Basement membrane
• Cornea
• Electron microscopy
• Topography
• Dog

  Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the surface topographical features of the epithelial and endothelial (Descemet's) basement membranes of the canine cornea. Corneas were obtained from young, healthy dogs (<2 years old) with no history or evidence of previous ocular disease. The epithelium and endothelium was carefully removed preserving the anterior and posterior basement membranes. The specimens were examined by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The epithelial and endothelial basement membrane surface topography is an intricate meshwork of pores and fibers measuring in the nanometer size range. The features of the endothelial basement membrane overall are smaller in size than the epithelial basement membrane. These surface topographical features may incite changes in epithelial and endothelial cell behavior.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Christopher J. Murphy, DVM, PhD
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive West
Madison, WI 53706 (USA)
Tel. +1 608 265 2454, Fax +1 608 263 7930, E-Mail murphyc@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu

  Article Information

Accepted after revision: July 26, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 34