title: New strategy to study corneal endothelial cell transplantation: the chick cornea model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To set up a culture assay of chick corneal endothelial cells (CECs) for transplantation into host corneas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histology sections were performed at 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 embryonic days of development of the chick embryo. Visualization of the gross morphology of CECs and of epithelium, stroma, and Descemet membrane was performed. Transplantation of CECs at 18 embryonic days of development into explanted, denuded from endothelial cell, host corneas of the same stage was attempted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results from the histological sections clearly indicate that after embryonic day 12, the endothelial cells are well differentiated and the proliferation is complete. Transplanted CECs were able to migrate and integrate into the denuded host corneas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated its feasibility using an easy accessible model of chick cornea. With this technique, sufficient CECs may be obtained for biochemical and functional investigations using only nonhatched chickens that are easily accessible and easy to manipulate.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. mangioris@yahoo.com
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Mangioris
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Chiodini
authors: Andre
authors: A
authors: Dosso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000166:cytology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D023421:Models, Animal