The role of dermatopontin in the stromal organization of the cornea.

Purpose: Dermatopontin (DPT) is an abundant component of the stromal extracellular matrix; however, its function in the cornea is poorly understood. This study was conducted to determine whether DPT has a direct role in corneal matrix organization by investigating the ultrastructure of Dpt-null (Dpt(-/-)) mouse corneas.

Methods: Conventional light microscopy was used to compare the corneal thickness of Dpt(-/-) mice with that of the wild type.