Specular microscopy to determine corneal endothelial cell morphology and morphometry in chinchillas ( C hinchilla lanigera)in vivo

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to measure cell density, average area, and morphology of corneal endothelium of chinchillas in different age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The corneal endothelium was studied with a contact specular microscope. Thirty chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) were evaluated, and 30 male chinchillas were divided into three groups of 10 chinchillas each, by age: Group 1 (2-4-month-old), Group 2 (48-month-old), and Group 3 (10 years of age). Data are presented as endothelial cell density (ECD), average cell area, and pleomorphism. RESULTS: Endothelial cell density decreases and an increase in endothelial cell area and pleomorphism were observed with age, in the corneas of normal chinchillas. For Group 1 chinchillas, the mean cell density was 3.423 cells per mm(2) . The mean ECD for Group 2 chinchillas was 2.650 cells per mm(2) . The mean ECD for Group 3 chinchillas was 2.124 cells per mm(2) . The average area for Group 1 chinchillas was 350.5 μm(2) . The average area for Group 2 chinchillas was 442.15 μm(2) . The average area for Group 3 chinchillas was 583.64 μm(2) . The pleomorphism for Group 1 was 70.05%. The pleomorphism for Group 2 was 65.18%, and the pleomorphism for Group 3 was 62.28%. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that chinchilla corneal endothelium undergoes age-related changes. Moreover, with advancing age, the mean cell area increased and cell density decreased.