Measurement of corneal sublayer thickness and transparency in transgenic mice with altered corneal clarity using in vivo confocal microscopy

Measurement of sublayer thickness and transparency at cellular level in the living animal are critical to understanding the role of specific transgene s and transgene products in controlling corneal development and maintenance of transparency. Using two different transgenic mouse strains having alter ed corneal clarity, we have evaluated the ability of in vivo confocal micro scopy to measure corneal haze and localize light scattering structures. Pro jection of 2-D and 3-D image information identified the nature and location of light scattering within the cornea and allowed correlation of unique st ructural differences to transgene expression. Our findings suggest that in vivo confocal microscopy can be used to identify the effects of transgene e xpression on mouse corneal transparency. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All lights reserved.