title: Corneal keratinization in the oel/ + mouse.
abstract: Several human diseases are accompanied by keratinization of the ocular surface and loss of corneal transparency. We describe a mouse strain in which 2/3 of the viable offspring manifest a corneal disease characterized initially by poor wetting followed by keratinization of the ocular surface, and progressive loss of corneal transparency. The corneal epithelium becomes vacuolated and the basement membrane thickened. Ulceration and perforation were seen in some cases. Standard bacterial cultures yielded no culpable pathogens. Blood antiviral titers and cultures of orbital and ocular tissues for herpes virus were negative. Double masked treatment trials with topical gentamicin, and topical and parenteral vitamin A had no significant effect on the course of the disease. The mouse strain exhibits corneal keratinization unresponsive to vitamin A therapy, and may serve as an excellent model of certain serious human ocular surface diseases.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007634:Keratitis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013666:Tears