Microstructure characteristics of cornea of some birds: a comparative study

Abstract Background Light is the critical factor that affects the eye's morphology and auxiliary plans. The ecomorphological engineering of the cornea aids the physiological activities of the cornea during connections between photoreceptor neurons and light photons. Cornea was dissected free from the orbit from three avian species as ibis (Eudocium albus), duck (Anas platyrhynchus domesticus) and hawk (Buteo Buteo) and prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy and special stain for structural comparison related to function. Results The three investigated avian species are composed of three identical layers; epithelium, stroma, and endothelium, and two basement membranes; bowman's and Descemet’s membrane, separating two cellular layers, except for B. buteo which only has a Descemet’s membrane. The corneal layers in the investigated species display different affinity to stain with Periodic Acid Schiff stain. The external corneal surface secured by different normal epithelial cells ran from hexagonal to regular polygonal cells. Those epithelial cells are punctured by different diameter microholes and microplicae and microvilli of various length. Blebs are scarcely distributed over their surface. The present investigation utilized histological, histochemical and SEM examination. Conclusions The study presents a brief image/account of certain structures of cornea for three of Avian’s species. Data distinguish the anatomic structures of the owl's eye. The discussion explains the role of some functional anatomical structures all through the vision