Age-related changes in rat corneal epithelial nerve density.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of aging on corneal epithelial nerve density in an animal model.


METHODS
Corneal whole mounts from rats aged 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were stained immunohistochemically with antisera against the pan-neuronal marker neurotubulin. Epithelial nerve terminals and subbasal nerves in standardized 1-mm(2) central and peripheral zones from each cornea were drawn using a drawing tube attached to a light microscope. Images were scanned, and nerve densities were calculated as the percentage of each 1-mm(2) area occupied by nerves. The diameters of subbasal nerves in 6- and 24-month old animals were measured. Subbasal nerve vortices were analyzed qualitatively with reference to location, morphologic appearance, and directionality.


RESULTS
Epithelial nerve terminal density decreased by approximately 50% between 6 and 24 months. The rate of decline was roughly linear and similar in both central and peripheral cornea. In contrast, subbasal nerve density increased by more than 50% between 6 and 24 months in both central and peripheral cornea. The mean diameter of corneal subbasal nerves decreased approximately 30% (0.384 microm vs. 0.271 microm) between 6 and 24 months. The morphologic appearance and directionality of the subbasal nerve vortex demonstrated considerable interanimal variability and did not correlate with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Rat corneal nerve terminal density decreases, but corneal subbasal nerve density increases, as a function of age. The age-related loss of nerve terminal density seen in the rat cornea is in keeping with the decreased corneal sensitivity reported in elderly humans and may contribute to the pathogenesis of dry eye disease in aged persons.
Dvorscak
Lauren
L
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest, Gary, Indiana 46408, USA.
Marfurt
Carl F
CF
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000294:innervation*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000166:cytology; D009412:Nerve Fibers; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
D014404:Tubulin; C029575:neurotubulin