The Development of the Chamber Angle in the Rat Eye. Morphological Characteristics of Developmental Stages

The pre- and postnatal development of the chamber angle region was studied in the rat. The eyes of five weight-matched littermates were investigated by light- and electron microscopy at each of the following times: prenatal days 14, 17, 18, 21; day of birth; postnatal days 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, 60, 100, 200. Major developmental stages are demonstrated and the morphological characteristics of each stage shown. Developmental periods in the rat are correlated with periods that have previously been outlined in the human (Remé and Lalive 1981). Major periods comprise the following events: I. anlage formation (day 17 prenatal - day postnatal); II. differentiation into definitive structures (days 5-10); III. specialization of definitive structures (days 10-20); IV. final components (days 20-60); V. final molding and rarefaction (days 60-100). Our data indicate that the developing rat eye is a suitable experimental model for studies on the development of the chamber angle. Moreover, this study provides baseline data for a separate investigation on morphogenetic events contributing to the remodeling processes occurring within the vertebrate chamber angle.