J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1991 Aug;32(8):629-632.

Morphometric Analysis of the Rabbit Corneal Endothelium Specular Microscopy Versus Alizarin Red S Staining

• Baik JM
• Kim KS

Abstract

Analysis of endothelial morphology by computer assisted digitizer and image analysis program provides very useful indices of cell shape and size which appear to correlate to the monolayer's functional status. To study the influences of the Alizarin red S staining, which is commonly used in animal experiments of corneal endothelium and vital staining, on the morphologic characteristics of corneal endothelium, morphometric data(density, area, coefficient of variation, perimeter, shape factor, hexagonality, lengths) obtained by specular microscopy of the endothelium are compared to data obtained by Alizarin red S staining of the endothelium of the excised cornea. Mean endothelial cell area was measured as 389.58 +/- 37.14 micrometer2, density was 2588 +/- 251 cells/mm2. The corresponding values measured after Alizarin red S staining, cell area was 407.42 +/- 45.3 micrometer2 and density was 2484 +/- 294 cells/mm2. But no significant differences were noted in comparing all morphometric data obtained by staining to that obtained from specular microscopy. Therefore, Alizarin red S staining combined with cell morphometric analysis could provide valuable data in a cornea which lacks clarity limits or precludes specular microscopy.

Keyword

Alizarin red S; Corneal endothelial cells; Image analysis program; Specular microscopy

MeSH Terms

Animal Experimentation
Cell Shape
Cornea
Endothelial Cells
Endothelium
Endothelium, Corneal*
Microscopy*