title: A new paradigm for corneal wound healing research: the white leghorn chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the chicken cornea as a model for corneal wound healing research.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted studies on normal chicken corneas and on corneas following mechanical debridement and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chicken cornea possesses six distinct layers that resemble the layers of the human cornea, including a substantial Bowman's layer measuring 5.2 +/- 0.3 microm thick. Reepithelialization time was 44.8 +/- 1.1 hours with a sliding rate of 75.3 +/- 3.2 microm/hour following mechanical debridement and 54.4 +/- 2.8 hours with a sliding rate of 63.3 +/- 3.2 microm/hour for PRK-treated corneas. Biomicroscopic haze post-PRK peaked at 4-6 weeks and regressed until 20 weeks post-PRK. Histologic and clinical observations of wound healing strongly paralleled that noted in humans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chicken cornea's morphology and wound healing response render it a useful model for corneal wound healing investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Free Electron Laser Laboratory, Duke University Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: W Craig
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Bruce Clyde
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Elena L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Zarovnaya
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Proia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002452:Cell Count; D002645:Chickens; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000503:physiopathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003646:Debridement; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*