Development of the Lacrimal Apparatus in the Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Its Potential Role as an Animal Model for Humans

Table 3

Summary of inception points for the NLD in amniotes.

	Rabbit (this study)	Mice [29] and Humans [30, 31]	Reptile (snake) [32]	Reptile (alligator) [33]
Location of origin	Subcutaneous	Nasolacrimal groove	Subcutaneous	Subcutaneous
Inception point	Day 19 (out of 30–32)	Mice: Day 11; (out of 19–21); Human: week five; (out of 36)	Stage 28 (out of 37)	Before Stage 16 (out of 28)
Growth	Originates in the lower eyelid and grows towards the nose. Opening partway in the lateral aspect of the narial wall [5].	A complete nasolacrimal groove connect nasal and orbital regions at a very early stage. Sinks into the underlying dermis and canalizes.	Originates from the lateral side of the duct for the VNO and grows towards the orbit.	Originates in the lower eyelid and grows towards the nose. Opening partway in the nasal cavity proper.