title: Intraocular ossification in the rd chicken.
abstract: Intraocular ossification in the rd chicken (rd/rd) was found as early as 18 months of age, while chickens 24 to 36 months of age exhibited total ossification of one eye and varying degrees of ossification in the contralateral eye. Heterozygous chickens (+/rd) examined at the same age intervals exhibited no intraocular ossification. Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed the progress of vitreal ossification. Histological staining showed the presence of collagen and calcium within the ossified vitreous. Analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry of totally ossified vitreous showed a composition similar to bone: Ca 38.8%, P 9.3% and Mg 0.39%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, J. Hillis Miller Health Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ulshafer
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ellis