Abstract
Purpose :
The limbus is a vital structure surrounding the cornea that harbors blood and lymphatic vessels. The purpose of this study was to characterize the spatiotemporal development of the limbus at embryonic and postnatal stages in order to better understand its hemangiogenic and lymphangiogenic growth within a physiological context.
Methods :
Corneal limbal tissues were collected from C57BL/6 mice at embryonic (E) days of E14.5 and E16.5, and postnatal (P) days of P0, P2, P4, P7, and P10. Immunohistochemical assays were performed using specific antibodies recognizing CD31, a panendothelial cell marker, and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1), a lymphatic marker. Samples were observed by an epifluorescent deconvolution microscope and digital images were analyzed using the NIH ImageJ software.
Results :
Our results showed that the lymphatic vessels started to form around P0, favoring growth in the superior and nasal regions of the limbus. The lymphatic ring was completed by P10. The blood vasculatures developed earlier than lymphatic vessels and reached completion by P0. Both vessel types continued morphological development during postnatal stages.
Conclusions :
There are differential patterns of the spatiotemporal development between lymphatic and blood vessels. This study not only provides the first evidence on the developmental characteristics of lymphatic and blood vessels at the limbus, but may also offers clues to the development and application of potential therapeutics on limbal dysfunctions.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.