Second Harmonic Generation Imaging Collagen Structure Modulation in Embryonic Chicken Cornea

Most of the cornea is organized through a lattice pattern of collagen fibrils which is responsible for its transparency. Developing avian cornea is a highly organized extracellular matrix composed largely of striated collagen fibrils. In this study, we use embryonic corneas from chicks as model animal to study the temporal and spatial variation of corneal stroma. Through the use of Fast Fourier Transform second harmonic generation microscopy, we quantified collagen alignment of the entire corneal thickness during development. Corneal structural variation at different stage of developing embryos was studied. These results indicate that both the rotational pitch and overall rotational angle of corneal stroma is highly involved in the developing process of cornea, and these properties exhibit strong correlation during the development of left and right corneas.