Comparative morphology of epicorneal conjunctival membranes in rabbits and human pterygium.
A rarely described ocular lesion in the rabbit is presented following the observation of four cases. It is a membrane of conjunctival origin that advances progressively, without adhering, towards the center of the cornea. Clinically the lesion in rabbits looks like pterygium in man, but with several differences: in rabbits, the conjunctival fold is absolutely free and does not penetrate into the superficial corneal layers. It originates from all the limbal circumference in a symetric growth. The cornea itself remains unaltered. The fold consists of fibroblasts and collagen. The microscopic findings suggest the lesion is possibly of a collagenous dysplasia.
Roze
M
M
Clinique Vétérinaire, 64 Bd Barry, 13013 Marseille, France. rozemaur@aol.com
Ridings
B
B
Lagadic
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011625:Pterygium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011817:Rabbits; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D003094:Collagen