The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of age on endothelial morphology and morphometry in cats. The corneal endothelium was studied using a contact specular microscope. A total of 18 cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) were evaluated in this study. The subjects were divided into three groups of six cats each in function of age: G1 (1 to 3 months old), G2 (5 to 12 months old), and G3 (24 to 40 months old). The examination presented data as endothelial cell density (ECD), average cell area, corneal thickness, polymegathism, and pleomorphism. Results revealed ECD decrease in corneas of normal cats with age, as well as a corresponding increase in endothelial cell area and pleomorphism. The present work suggests that the endothelial parameters evaluated change with advancing age.

The results suggested that chinchilla corneal endothelium undergoes age-related changes. Moreover, with advancing age, the mean cell area increased and cell density decreased.

The corneal endothelium is a single layer of polygonal cells essential for corneal transparency. The objective of this study was to assess the parameters corneal endothelial cells in healthy chickens of different ages using a contact specular microscopy. A total 36 eyes of 18 chickens were evaluated in this study. After the humane slaughter of birds and subconjunctival enucleation, the eye bulbs were arranged into three groups according to the age of the chickens. Group 1 consisted of bulbs eyes of 6 chickens with ages ranging from 1 to 3 months old. Group 2 consisted of ocular bulbs 6 chickens with ages ranging from 5 to 12 months old. Group 3 consisted of bulbs eyes of 6 chickens with ages ranging from 24 to 40 months old. The contact specular microscopy was easy to perform and provided data such as endothelial cell density, average cell area and cellular pleomorphism. The results obtained with a contact specular microscopy revealed that the aging causes a decrease in the density of the corneal endothelium healthy chickens. Similarly, increasing the average endothelial cell area as well as the pleomorphism occurs. The present work suggests that the parameters of corneal endothelium of healthy chickens present change with advancing age. Key words: Chickens, cornea, endothelium, contact specular microscopy ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros do endotélio da córnea de galinhas saudáveis de diferentes faixas etárias utilizando a microscopia especular de contato. Foram avaliados 36 bulbos oculares de 18 galinhas. Após o abate humanitário das aves e a enucleação subconjuntival, os bulbos oculares foram dispostos em três grupos distintos de acordo com a faixa etária. O grupo 1 foi composto por bulbos dos olhos de 6 galinhas com idades variando entre 1 a 3 meses de idade. O grupo 2 foi formado por bulbos oculares de 6 galinhas com idades variando entre 5 a 12 meses de idade. Já o grupo 3 consistiu em bulbos oculares de 6 galinhas com idades variando entre 24 a 40 meses de idade. A microscopia especular de contato foi de fácil realização e forneceu dados como a densidade de células endoteliais, área celular média e o pleomorfismo celular. Os resultados obtidos com esse exame revelaram que o avanço da idade acarreta na diminuição da densidade do endotélio da córnea de galinhas. Além disso, ocorre o aumento da área celular endotelial média bem como do pleomorfismo. O presente trabalho sugere que os parâmetros do endotélio da córnea de galinhas apresentam mudanças com o avanço da idade. Palavras-chave: Galinhas, córnea, endotélio, microscopia especular de contato

ABSTRACT.-Terzariol M., Hünning P.S., Brambatti G., Albuquerque L., Neumann C. & Pigatto J.A. T. 2016 The aim was to investigate the ultrastructural changes in the corneal endothelium of pigs induced by intracameral 0.05% brilliant blue. Twenty swine corneas were separated into two groups, the right eye bulbs (control group) and the left eye bulbs (experimental group) of the same animal. All the eye bulbs were evaluated with specular microscopy. The cornea of the right eye bulbs was excised and in the left eye bulbs 0.2ml of 0.05% brilliant blue vital dye (OPTH-blue ® ) was injected into the anterior chamber, where it remained for one minute. Then the anterior chamber was cleaned with a balanced salt solution injection and the cornea was excised too. All the corneas were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the changes on the endothelium caused by the brilliant blue dye. There were no significant differences between the right corneal endothelium cells and the left corneal endothelium cells with scanning electron microscopy after intracameral use of 0.05% brilliant blue dye. The 0.05% brilliant blue dye concentration did not cause deleterious effects for the swine corneal endothelium after intracameral use and can be a choice for safe staining of the anterior capsule of the lens in cataract surgery.INDEX TERMS: Eye, brilliant blue 0.05%, toxicity, corneal endothelium, swine.

RESUMO Mensuração da pressão intraocular em ovinos, usando tonômetro de aplanaçãoO objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e estabelecer os valores de pressão intraocular (PIO) média, em ovinos adultos saudáveis, usando a tonometria de aplanação. Foram utilizados no estudo 25 ovinos saudáveis (Ovis aries), da raça Texel, machos ou fêmeas de três anos de idade. Foram realizados exames oftálmicos, incluindo: avaliação dos reflexos pupilares, teste lacrimal de Schirmer, avaliação com lâmpada de fenda e coloração com fluoresceína, em ambos os olhos de todos os animais. Para a realização dos testes oftálmicos, os animais foram contidos pelo mesmo auxiliar, sem pressão na região jugular e as pálpebras foram delicadamente abertas. A PIO foi aferida, utilizando-se o tonômetro de aplanação Tonopen XL, tendo sido todos os exames realizados pelo mesmo examinador. Foram realizadas três avalia- The purpose of this study was to evaluate and establish the mean values of IOP in healthy adult sheep using an applanation tonometer. Information on age, sex, and breed was obtained for all animals included in this study. Twenty five healthy sheep (Ovis aries), of the same breed (Texel), male or female, with three years of age, received an ophthalmic examination in both eyes, including pupillary reflexes, Schirmer tear test, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and fluorescein staining. For all ophthalmic testing, animals were gently physically restrained, with no pressure in the jugular area and the eyelids were carefully open. IOP was measured by applanation tonometry (Tonopen XL). The same examiner performed the tonometry; measurements were taken three times for each eye, and their average was recorded as the IOP of the animal. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test and values of P < 0.05 were considered significant. The mean intraocular pressure in the whole group of 50 eyes was of 16.36 +/-2.19 mm Hg. The mean (SD) IOP in the right eye was of 15.96 +/-2.02 mm Hg, while the mean (SD) IOP in the left eye was of 16.76 +/-2.32 mm Hg. Significant differences in IOP were not found between right and left eyes. The applanation tonometer was adequate for measuring the intraocular pressure in sheep. Reference data will assist in diagnosing testing for ophthalmic disease in sheep, as 1 well as promote further studies in this area.