title: Comparative study of fibrillar collagen arrangement in the corneas of primates and other mammals.
abstract: This study is a comparative study of the relationship between corneal structure, morphology, and function in a range of mammalian species. X-ray scattering patterns were gathered at regular spatial intervals over the excised cornea (and in most cases also the scleral rim) of humans, marmosets, horses, cows, pigs, rabbits, and mice. All patterns were analyzed to produce quantitative information regarding the predominant orientation of fibrillar collagen throughout the tissue. The predominant direction of corneal collagen varies between mammals. This variation is not related to the size, shape, or thickness of the cornea or the frequency with which the animal blinks. A relationship does, however, appear to exist between corneal collagen arrangement and visual acuity. An excess of collagen directed toward one or both sets of opposing rectus muscles is a feature of animals that have an intermediate to high level of visual acuity. There is a significant variation in the arrangement of corneal collagen between different mammalian species. This finding may be related to differences in the frequency of action and the forces generated by the various extraocular muscles during eye movement and image fixation.
authors.affiliation: Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry and Vision Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boote
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abahussin
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Quantock
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Purslow
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Votruba
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008322:Mammals / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011323:Primates / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D024022:Fibrillar Collagens