Development of Ocular Mucin: Scanning EM Analysis

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Abstract
Ocular mucin (mucus) development in the mouse was examined using several different fixatives and scanning electron microscopy. One of the fixatives, a picric acid-paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde (PA-P-G) preparation which fixes mucin at the adult mouse corneal surfce, first demonstrated mucin at the surface of the pup cornea and conjunctiva at postnatal day 10. The mucus was scant, strand-like as well as granular in morphology and did not form smooth patches as in the adult. Thus, mucin is present at the ocular surface well before the mouse eye opens (day 14-15). Its presence is essential to ensure tear film stability, corneal wettability and possibly to protect the eye from bacterial and viral insult.