Formation of corneal endothelium is essential for anterior segment development – a transgenic mouse model of anterior segment dysgenesis

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.127.3.533
• Publication Date: 2021-04-26T04:23:11Z
• Authors: Lixing W. Reneker; David W. Silversides; Li Xu; Paul A. Overbeek
• Keywords: Corneal Endothelium; IRIS (biosensor); Dysgenesis

ABSTRACT The anterior segment of the vertebrate eye is constructed by proper spatial development cells derived from surface ectoderm, which become corneal epithelium and lens, neuroectoderm (posterior iris ciliary body) cranial neural crest (corneal stroma, endothelium iris). Although coordinated interactions between these different cell types are presumed to be essential for positioning differentiation, requisite intercellular signals remain undefined. We have generated transgenic mice that express either transforming growth factor α (TGFα) or epidermal (EGF) in ocular lens using mouse αA-crystallin promoter. Expression alters normal developmental fate innermost mesenchymal so often fail differentiate into endothelial cells. Both sets subsequently manifest multiple defects, including attachment cornea, a reduction thickness epithelium, opacity, modest disorganization stroma. Our data suggest formation during early morphogenesis required prevent therefore permitting segment.