The development of the cornea is a fascinating process. Its dual origin involves the
differentiation of surface ectoderm cells and the migration of mesenchymal cells of
neural crest origin. This research aimed to demonstrate the morphogenesis of the
rabbit cornea from fetal to postnatal life using light- and electron microscopy, and
immunohistochemical analysis. There were 27 rabbit embryos and nine rabbits used.
The rabbit cornea begins its prenatal development on the twelfth day of gestation.
The surface ectoderm differentiates into the corneal epithelium on day 13. Intriguingly,
telocytes were visible within the epithelium. The secondary stroma develops
on the sixteenth day of gestation by differentiation of keratocytes. At the age of
2 weeks, the lamellae of collagenous fibers become highly organized, and the stroma
becomes avascular, indicating that the cornea has become transparent. Bowman's
membrane appears on day 23 of pregnancy and disappears on day 30. The Descemet's
membrane appears at this time and continues to thicken postnatally. The corneal
endothelium appears on the twentieth gestational day as double layer of
flattened cells and becomes a single layer of cuboidal cells on day 30. The spaces
between the endothelial cells resemble craters. VEGF immunohistochemical expression
increases over the course of development, reaching its peak in the first week
after birth before decreasing in all corneal layers and becoming negative in the
stroma. In conclusion, numerous morphogenetic events contribute to corneal maturation
and transparency, allowing the cornea to perform its vital functions.