The chicken cornea as a model of wound healing and neuronal re-innervation
2011

Chicken Cornea as a Model for Wound Healing

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ritchey Eric R., Code Kimberly, Zelinka Christopher P., Scott Melissa A., Fischer Andy J.

Primary Institution: The Ohio State University

Hypothesis

How does the chicken cornea respond to injury and what are the mechanisms involved in wound healing?

Conclusion

The chick cornea is an excellent model system for studying wound healing, scar tissue formation, and neuronal re-innervation.

Supporting Evidence

  • Acute necrotic cell death occurs in the corneal region immediately surrounding the incision.
  • Neuronal re-innervation occurs quickly after the initial scarring insult.
  • An accumulation of cells within the stroma results from local proliferation of keratocytes.
  • Scar-induced accumulations of CD45-positive monocytes are observed in injured corneas.

Takeaway

When a chicken's cornea gets hurt, it heals quickly and grows back new nerves, making it a good model to study how wounds heal.

Methodology

Linear corneal wounds were made in post-natal day 7 chicks, and cellular responses were assessed using immunohistochemical techniques.

Limitations

The study was conducted on young chicks, and responses may differ in older chickens.

Participant Demographics

Post-natal day 7 White Leghorn chickens.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p=0.002

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

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