Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development
Abstract Identifying and locating stem cell populations in the limbus may lead to developing a cell-based strategy for treating the corneal injury. Therefore, this study was the first to design a follow-up on the microscopical and histomorphometric changes in the rabbit limbus and to localize and de...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18090-2 |
| _version_ | 1811215540848427008 |
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| author | Nada Abdellah Sara M. M. El- Desoky |
| author_facet | Nada Abdellah Sara M. M. El- Desoky |
| author_sort | Nada Abdellah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Identifying and locating stem cell populations in the limbus may lead to developing a cell-based strategy for treating the corneal injury. Therefore, this study was the first to design a follow-up on the microscopical and histomorphometric changes in the rabbit limbus and to localize and demonstrate the limbal stem cell niche during postnatal development. The paraffin sections from the eyes of different postnatal-developmental stages were stained and examined using light microscopy. Furthermore, sections were immunohistologically stained for the epithelial stem cell differentiation marker, cytokeratin-14. Moreover, semithin and ultrathin sections were applied for ultrastructural demonstration of the stem cell niche. This study revealed that the number and thickness of limbal epithelial layers increased with age, whereas the thickness of limbal stroma decreased. Additionally, the immunohistochemical data showed that ck14 staining intensity increased in the limbal region where limbal stem cells reside. The semithin and ultrastructure investigation revealed stem cell clusters within the limbus’s underlying stroma close to the blood and nerve supply and surrounded by telocytes. Conclusively, isolated clusters of limbal epithelial stem cells combined with blood vessels, nerve fibers, and telocytes propose a harmonious microenvironment of a stem cell niche. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:24:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5d7b95e378b4603bf1f4d33691dd415 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:24:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5d7b95e378b4603bf1f4d33691dd4152022-12-22T03:44:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-08-011211710.1038/s41598-022-18090-2Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal developmentNada Abdellah0Sara M. M. El- Desoky1Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag UniversityDepartment of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut UniversityAbstract Identifying and locating stem cell populations in the limbus may lead to developing a cell-based strategy for treating the corneal injury. Therefore, this study was the first to design a follow-up on the microscopical and histomorphometric changes in the rabbit limbus and to localize and demonstrate the limbal stem cell niche during postnatal development. The paraffin sections from the eyes of different postnatal-developmental stages were stained and examined using light microscopy. Furthermore, sections were immunohistologically stained for the epithelial stem cell differentiation marker, cytokeratin-14. Moreover, semithin and ultrathin sections were applied for ultrastructural demonstration of the stem cell niche. This study revealed that the number and thickness of limbal epithelial layers increased with age, whereas the thickness of limbal stroma decreased. Additionally, the immunohistochemical data showed that ck14 staining intensity increased in the limbal region where limbal stem cells reside. The semithin and ultrastructure investigation revealed stem cell clusters within the limbus’s underlying stroma close to the blood and nerve supply and surrounded by telocytes. Conclusively, isolated clusters of limbal epithelial stem cells combined with blood vessels, nerve fibers, and telocytes propose a harmonious microenvironment of a stem cell niche.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18090-2 |
| spellingShingle | Nada Abdellah Sara M. M. El- Desoky Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development Scientific Reports |
| title | Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development |
| title_full | Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development |
| title_fullStr | Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development |
| title_short | Novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development |
| title_sort | novel detection of stem cell niche within the stroma of limbus in the rabbit during postnatal development |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18090-2 |
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