PONE-D-19-32784

Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of the porcine ocular surface

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. DIEBOLD,

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Kind regards,

Yu-Chi Liu, M.D

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

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Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: The manuscript characterized the ocular surface of the white domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica), including cornea, conjunctiva, goblet cell numbers and distribution, mucin composition, CLAT numbers and distribution, lymphoid tissues, Meibominan glands. They discussed the differences and similarities between porcine and human eyes. For example, human eyes do not have nictitating membrane while porcine eyes have; porcine cornea does not have Bowman’s layer and much thicker than human cornea. Despite the differences, porcine conjunctiva is similar to human conjunctiva at goblet cell density and distribution, mucin composition, CLAT and lymphoid tissue characteristics and distribution et al. They conclude that porcine ocular structures are similar to those of humans, is a good model to study ocular surface pathology of human eye.

The manuscript is well written, and the experiments are well designed and analysed. Experiment results are fully discussed and support the conclusion.

Some minor concerns:

1. In line 105, pre-adult pigs (6-8 weeks) were used. Are there any specific reasons to use pre-adult pigs? Will the ocular surface characteristics be different when pigs become adult?

2. Figure legends should not be inserted into the main text.

3. Should include a negative control in Figure 11

Reviewer #2: The article is well written and articulated. There is no major concern with the techniques that they used to answer the research questions. There are only two queries that I hope the authors could address:

1. One of the challenges of using pig tissues for research is the limited number of antibodies that recognize porcine antigens. This perhaps should be highlighted in the discussion.

2. The current study only highlighted the structural similarities between porcine and human corneas and ocular surface. Perhaps this should be made distinct in the conclusion of the study. The proteomics and biomechanics may be distinctly different between the two species.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of the porcine ocular surface

PONE-D-19-32784R1

Dear Dr. DIEBOLD,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it complies with all outstanding technical requirements.

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With kind regards,

Yu-Chi Liu, M.D

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: