Abstract
Current thinking on the embryological origin of human corneal endothelium has it that this cellular population stems from neural crest precursors. There are arguments in support of this assumption but equally persuasive ones against it. We present a discussion of the evidence for and against a neural crest origin for human corneal endothelial cells. In suggesting that caution be applied to extrapolating from non-human work, we would question the fallibility of the current thinking on this subject. To denote human corneal dystrophies as neurocristopathies may be a premature assumption.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Larsen WJ . Human embryology. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1993:65–110, 341–51.
Johnston MC, Noden DM, Hazelton RD, Coulombre JL . Origins of avian ocular and periocular tissues. Exp Eye Res 1979;29:27–43.
Chan WY, Tarn PPL . A morphological and experimental study of the mesencephalic neural crest cells in the mouse embryo using wheat germ agglutinin-gold conjugate as the cell marker. Development 1988;102:427–42.
Noden DM . The control of avian cephalic neural crest cytodifferentiation. 1. Skeletal and connective tissues. Dev Biol 1978;67:296–312.
Meier S . The distribution of cranial neural crest cells during ocular morphogenesis. In: Clinical, structural and biochemical advances in hereditary eye disorders. New York Liss, 1982:1–15.
Erickson CA, Goins TL . Avian neural crest cells can migrate in the dorsolateral path only if they are specified as melanocytes. Development 1995;121:915–24.
Bronner-Fraser M . Origins and development potential of the neural crest. Exp Cell Res 1995;218:405–17.
Frank E, Sanes JR . Lineage of neurons and glia in chick dorsal root ganglia: analysis in vivo with a recombinant retrovirus. Development 1991;111:895–908.
Le Douarin NM, Catala M, Batini C . Embryonic neural chimeras in the study of vertebrate brain and head development. Int Rev Cytol 1997;175:241–309.
Polack FM, Bourne WM, Forstot SL, Yamaguchi T . Scanning electron microscopy of posterior polymorphous dystrophy. Am J Ophthalmol 1980;89:575–84.
Gwin RM, Cunningham DE, Shaver RP . Posterior polymorphous dystrophy of the cornea in Cocker Spaniels: preliminary clinical and specular microscopic findings. Trans Am CoU Vet Ophthalmol 1983;14:154–61.
Hay ED . Development of the vertebrate cornea. Int Rev Cytol 1980;63:263–322.
Bahn CF, Falls HF, Varley GA, Meyer RF, Edelhauser HF, Bourne WM . Classification of corneal endothelial disorders based on neural crest origin. Ophthalmology 1984;91:558–63.
Stirling R, Pitts J, Galloway NR, Robson K, Newbury-Ecob R . Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy associated with nail hypoplasia. Br J Ophthalmol 1994;78:77–8.
Johnson DH, Bourne WM, Campbell RJ . The ultrastructure of Descemet's membrane. Arch Ophthalmol 1982;100:1942–7.
Kirkness CM, McCartney A, Rice NSC, Garner A, Steele AD . Congenital hereditary corneal oedema of Maumenee: its clinical features, management and pathology. Br J Ophthalmol 1987;71:130–44.
Kaplan P, de Chaderevian JP . Piebaldism-Waardenburg syndrome: histopathological evidence for a neural crest syndrome. Am J Med Genet 1988;31:679–88.
Snip RC, Green WR, Kreutzer EW, Hirst LW, Kenyon KR . Posterior corneal pigmentation and fibrous proliferation by iris melanocytes. Arch Ophthalmol 1981;99:1232–8.
Kenyon KR, Stark WJ, Stone DL . Corneal endothelial degeneration and fibrous proliferation after pars plana vitrectomy. Am J Ophthalmol 1976;81:486–90.
Nataf V, Merrier P, Ziller C, Le Douarin NM . Novel markers of melanocyte differentiation in the avian embryo. Exp Cell Res 1993;207:171–82.
Millichamp NJ . Exotic animal ophthalmology. In: Gelatt KN, editor. Veterinary ophthalmology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1991:68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors have no proprietary interests in any of this work
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Simmons, I., Stewart, O. Do corneal endothelial dystrophies represent ocular neurocristopathies? A discussion on the available evidence. Eye 12, 350–352 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1998.84
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1998.84