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Veterinary research communications2017; 41(2); 169-173; doi: 10.1007/s11259-017-9676-y

Morphological description of limbal epithelium: searching for stem cells crypts in the dog, cat, pig, cow, sheep and horse.

Abstract: The cornea provides protection and transparency to the eye, allowing an optimal sharpness view. In some pathological conditions the cornea is able to regenerate thanks to the presence of a stem cells reservoir present at the level of the transition area between cornea and sclera (limbus). Corneal cell therapies in Veterinary Medicine are really limited due to the lacking of knowledge about the anatomy of the limbal area, the putative presence of stem cells and their identification in domestic species. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the main distinctive structural features of the sclero-corneal junction and conjunctival-corneal junction areas in some species of veterinary importance, using optic microscope observations of histological sections. The resulting data were compared with cornea from humans adapting protocols already used to identify stem cells by means of a specific cellular marker. We tested the expression of ΔNp63α isoform in the cornea basal cells, trying to correlate the distribution profile with areas of highly proliferative turnover. The results obtained from this study represent a first step towards the identification of a corneal stem cells reservoir in different animals.
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Publication Date: 2017-01-21 PubMed ID: 28110374DOI: 10.1007/s11259-017-9676-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper investigates the presence and potential location of stem cell reservoirs in the eyes of various domestic animals. It aims to further knowledge of the anatomy of the limbal area, which could aid in corneal cell therapies in veterinary medicine.

Study Purpose and Rationale

  • The study aims to enhance understanding of the limbal area—a transitional area between cornea and sclera—in domestic animals. This is mainly due to the limited current knowledge in veterinary medicine about this region’s anatomy, the speculated existence of stem cells, and methods for identifying such cells.
  • The core focus is disease conditions that stimulate the regenerative capabilities of the cornea. The researchers believe the regenerative power of the cornea is due to the presence of a stem cell reservoir at the limbal area, hence the focus on this region.

Methodology

  • The research investigated various species of veterinary significance, such as dogs, cats, pigs, cows, sheep, and horses.
  • The key structural features of the sclero-corneal junction and the conjunctival-corneal junction areas were examined using an optic microscope to observe histological sections.
  • The researchers also tested the expression of the ΔNp63α isoform in the cornea’s basal cells. This was an attempt to correlate the distribution profile with areas of high proliferative turnover, which could be an indication of a stem cell reservoir.

Findings and Implications

  • The findings of this study are a stepping stone towards identifying corneal stem cells reservoirs in various animals.
  • This could potentially broaden the scope and effectiveness of corneal cell therapies in the veterinary field. Consequently, it could contribute to improved management and treatment of certain pathological conditions impacting the eye health of domestic animals.

Comparison with Human Studies

  • The researchers compared the data gathered from these animals with available information from human cornea studies.
  • By adapting protocols already used in human studies, the researchers aimed to identify stem cells in animals using a specific cellular marker.

Cite This Article

APA
Patruno M, Perazzi A, Martinello T, Blaseotto A, Di Iorio E, Iacopetti I. (2017). Morphological description of limbal epithelium: searching for stem cells crypts in the dog, cat, pig, cow, sheep and horse. Vet Res Commun, 41(2), 169-173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-017-9676-y

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 2
Pages: 169-173

Researcher Affiliations

Patruno, M
  • Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro - Agripolis, Padova, Italy. marco.pat@unipd.it.
Perazzi, A
  • Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro - Agripolis, Padova, Italy.
Martinello, T
  • Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro - Agripolis, Padova, Italy.
Blaseotto, A
  • Global Stem cell Technology-ANACURA Group, Noorwegenstraat 4, 9940, Evergem, Belgium.
Di Iorio, E
  • Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Iacopetti, I
  • Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro - Agripolis, Padova, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cats / anatomy & histology
  • Cattle / anatomy & histology
  • Dogs / anatomy & histology
  • Endothelium, Corneal / anatomy & histology
  • Endothelium, Corneal / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Epithelium / anatomy & histology
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Sclera / anatomy & histology
  • Sclera / cytology
  • Sheep / anatomy & histology
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Swine / anatomy & histology

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Polisetti N, Martin G, Cristina Schmitz HR, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Schlunck G, Reinhard T. Characterization of Porcine Ocular Surface Epithelial Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Apr 19;24(8).
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  2. Klećkowska-Nawrot J, Goździewska-Harłajczuk K, Barszcz K. Comparative Histology of the Cornea and Palisades of Vogt in the Different Wild Ruminants (Bovidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae, Tragulidae). Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 17;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223188pubmed: 36428415google scholar: lookup
  3. Popova P, Malalana F, Biddolph S, Ramos T, Parekh M, Chantrey J, Ahmad S. Interspecies comparative morphological evaluation of the corneal epithelial stem cell niche: a pilot observational study. J Vet Sci 2022 Jul;23(4):e62.
    doi: 10.4142/jvs.22009pubmed: 35920126google scholar: lookup
  4. Villatoro AJ, Alcoholado C, Martín-Astorga MDC, Rico G, Fernández V, Becerra J. Characterization of the secretory profile and exosomes of limbal stem cells in the canine species. PLoS One 2020;15(12):e0244327.
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  6. Kammergruber E, Rahn C, Nell B, Gabner S, Egerbacher M. Morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the equine corneal epithelium. Vet Ophthalmol 2019 Nov;22(6):778-790.
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  7. Li J, Xiao Y, Coursey TG, Chen X, Deng R, Lu F, Pflugfelder SC, Li DQ. Identification for Differential Localization of Putative Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells in Mouse and Human. Sci Rep 2017 Jul 12;7(1):5169.
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  8. Yan R, Chen FY, Lindgren ES, Gao Q, Kuo YM, Robertson DM, Cil O, Chan MF, Pasricha ND. Optimized Protocol for Isolation and Culture of Primary Human Corneal Epithelial Cells. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2025 Oct 1;14(10):28.
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