title: In vivo laser confocal microscopic analysis of murine cornea and lens microstructures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study is to investigate in vivo microstructures of anterior segments of normal murine eyes by new-generation in vivo laser confocal microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six corneas and lenses from 13 mice were analyzed by in vivo laser confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Murine corneal superficial cells formed a polygonal cell pattern, with a mean cell density of 577 +/- 115 cells/mm2 (mean +/- standard deviation). Corneal basal epithelial cells had dark cytoplasm and were closely organized (9,312 +/- 1,777 cells/mm2). Sub-basal nerve fiber bundles were arranged in a whorl pattern, with both clockwise and counter-clockwise patterns. In the stroma, keratocytes were observed as numerous reflective stellate structures. The endothelial cells were organized in a honeycomb pattern (2,463 +/- 292 cells/mm2). Deeper inside the eye, murine lens epithelial cells were organized in a regular pattern (4,168 +/- 636 cells/mm2) and numerous lens fibers were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vivo laser confocal microscopy can provide high-resolution images of all corneal layers and lens structures of mice without sacrificing animals or tissue preparation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuasa
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokogawa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000294:innervation*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D009412:Nerve Fibers