Corneal Pocket Assay in Rabbits

Abstract

The anterior chamber of the eye is a natural site for observing tumor growth, and implantation in a corneal pocket can be used for this purpose. This protocol describes the corneal pocket assay in rabbits. Because of the 3D nature of vessel growth, it is difficult to quantify the vascular response except in the early stages when the vessel length/number can be assessed. The assay can be used for mice with modification. Although it is less expensive to use rats/mice compared with rabbits, surgery on smaller eyes is more difficult. Furthermore, because the rat/mouse cornea is thinner than the rabbit’s, the three-dimensional (3D) growth of vessels is even more limited.