【Animal Modeling】-Comparative Analysis of Corneal Endothelial Cells in Rhesus Monkeys and Tree Shrews

  Objective: To compare and analyze the characteristics and differences of corneal endothelial cells between rhesus monkeys and tree shrews.

  Methods: Using the non-contact automatic corneal endothelial cytometer SP3000P, 6 rhesus monkeys (12 eyes) and 20 tree shrews (40 eyes) were used to measure corneal endothelial cells, and 8 related parameters of the cornea were obtained: central corneal thickness (CCT), Minimum Cell Area (Smin), Maximum Cell Area (Smax), Mean Cell Area (Savg), Cell Area Standard Deviation (SSD), Cell Area Coefficient of Variation (CV), Cell Density (CD) and Hexagon The percentage of cells (HG) was compared with the relevant parameters of the human eye in combination with the literature.

  Results: The SP3000P Corneal Endothelial Cytometer can complete the image acquisition and parameter inspection of the corneal endothelium of rhesus monkeys and tree shrews in a relatively short time, and there is no significant difference in time-consuming. Rhesus monkey and tree shrew CCT were (449.2±12.8) μm and (262.4±24.6) μm; Smin were (120.4±26.3) S/μm2 and (153.2±42.9) S/μm2 respectively; Smax was (705.0±24.9) S/μm2 130.8)S/μm2 and (468.7±109.3)S/μm2; Savg were (351.1±26.1) and (295.4±18.9)S/μm2; SSD were (113.1±27.4) and (75.9±27.3)S/μm2 ; CV were (31.9±6.0) and (25.3±8.3); CD were (2874.2±203.8)p/cell·mm-2 and (3399.3±224.7)p/cell·mm-2; HG% were ( 58.6±9.1) and (94.0±9.7). There were significant differences in the above parameters between the two groups (P<0.05). The corneal thickness of tree shrews was smaller than that of rhesus monkeys, and the endothelial cell area and coefficient of variation were also smaller than those of rhesus monkeys, but the density of corneal endothelial cells and the proportion of hexagonal cells were significantly higher than those of rhesus monkeys. The corneal thickness, the coefficient of variation of corneal endothelial cells and the proportion of hexagonal cells in rhesus monkeys were similar to those of human eyes, but the density of endothelial cells was lower than that of human eyes. However, the density and average cell area of corneal endothelial cells are closer to those of 10-20 year old eyes.

  Conclusion: The morphology and parameters of corneal endothelial cells of rhesus macaque and tree shrew are significantly different, and they have both similarities and differences with human corneal endothelial cells. Suitable experimental animals for endothelial disease can be selected.