Corneal stromal innervation: a quantitative analysis of distribution

Abstract

The density of stromal nerve trunks and their branches was determined at the peripheral and the central areas of the four corneal quadrants in the Long-Evans hooded rat by using a nonspecific cholinesterase histochemical reaction. It was found that the density of stromal innervation is the same in the different quadrants and in the 2 eyes of the same animal. However, the density of stromal innervation was higher at the periphery that at the center of the cornea. The study provides quantitative information on the density of corneal stromal innervation in a commonly used laboratory animal. These data were unavailable in the literature, and can be used as a baseline for experimental studies.