Normal Corneal Microstructure in Chinchilla Rabbits According to Confocal Microscopy
https://doi.org/10.18008/1816-5095-2026-2-449-455
Abstract
Purpose: to evaluate the normal microstructure of the cornea in Chinchilla rabbits using confocal microscopy data.
Material and methods. Confocal microscopy of the cornea was performed on 10 male Chinchilla rabbits. The weight of rabbits is from 3500 to 4200 grams. One (right) eye of the animal was included in the study. Confocal microscopy of the cornea was performed on a laser scanning microscope HRT-3 (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) using a special corneal module Rostock Cornea Module (RCM). The scanning area is 400×400 µm, with transverse and axial resolutions of 1–2 and 4 µm, respectively, the scanning speed is 30 frames per second, and the size of the resulting images is 384×384 pixels.
Results. During confocal microscopy of the cornea, it was possible to obtain images with differentiation of its substructures in all animals. The corneal thickness of rabbits varied within the range of 340–359 µm. The obtained data from confocal microscopy have showed that the structure of the cornea of the Chinchilla rabbit does not differ significantly from the normal structure of the human cornea.
Conclusion. The use of Chinchilla rabbits is advisable in experimental models associated with the imitation of diseases of the epithelium, stroma and endothelium of the cornea. When modeling diseases and studying the pathogenetic mechanisms of their development in animals, it is necessary to remember that the same diseases in the body of laboratory animals and humans can develop according to different scenarios due to differences in cellular metabolism.
About the Authors
E. V. Erokhina
The Kaluga Branch of the S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Erokhina Elena V. - PhD, head of the Diagnostic Department
Svyatoslav Fedorova str., 5, Kaluga, 248007
I. G. Trifanenkova
The Kaluga Branch of the S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution;
Kaluga state university named after K.E. Tsiolkovski
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Trifanenkova Irina G. - MD, deputy director for research
Svyatoslav Fedorova str., 5, Kaluga, 248007;
Stepana Razina str., 26, Kaluga, 248023
A. V. Tereshchenko
The Kaluga Branch of the S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Tereshchenko Alexander V. - MD, Professor, director
Svyatoslav Fedorova str., 5, Kaluga, 248007
E. S. Chikova
The Kaluga Branch of the S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chikova Ekaterina S. - ophthalmologist
Svyatoslav Fedorova str., 5, Kaluga, 248007
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Review
For citations:
Erokhina E.V., Trifanenkova I.G., Tereshchenko A.V., Chikova E.S. Normal Corneal Microstructure in Chinchilla Rabbits According to Confocal Microscopy. Ophthalmology in Russia. 2026;23(2):449-455. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18008/1816-5095-2026-2-449-455
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