Quantification of Collagen Organization in the Peripheral Human Cornea at Micron-Scale Resolution
Quantification of Collagen Organization in the Peripheral Human Cornea at Micron-Scale Resolution
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DOI：
10.1016/j.bpj.2011.05.029
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发表时间：
2011-07-06
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Meek, Keith M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Boote, Craig;Kamma-Lorger, Christina S.;Meek, Keith M.
角膜周边的胶原微结构对于稳定角膜曲率和屈光状态很重要。然而，中央角膜主要正交的胶原原纤维与周边角膜缘胶原整合的方式尚不清楚。我们使用微焦点广角 X 射线散射来量化人角膜缘界面上胶原纤维以 50 μm 间隔的相对比例和方向。正交原纤维在角膜缘前 1-1.5 毫米改变方向，与周围的角膜缘原纤维整合。在中央 6 毫米之外，发现额外的优先排列的胶原蛋白可以加固角膜和角膜缘。整合方式和强化程度根据接近角膜缘的方向而显着变化。我们还采用小角 X 射线散射以 0.5 毫米的间隔测量从角膜中央到角膜缘的平均胶原纤维直径。原纤维直径在中心 6 毫米范围内恒定。在更外围，原纤维直径增加，表明角膜和巩膜胶原蛋白合并。增加点随方向而变化，与斜角膜周边通过巩膜胶原索加固的方案一致。该结果对角膜对涉及周边切口的眼部手术的生物力学反应具有影响。
The collagen microstructure of the peripheral cornea is important in stabilizing corneal curvature and refractive status. However, the manner in which the predominantly orthogonal collagen fibrils of the central cornea integrate with the circumferential limbal collagen is unknown. We used microfocus wide-angle x-ray scattering to quantify the relative proportion and orientation of collagen fibrils over the human corneolimbal interface at intervals of 50 mu m. Orthogonal fibrils changed direction 1-1.5 mm before the limbus to integrate with the circumferential limbal fibrils. Outside the central 6 mm, additional preferentially aligned collagen was found to reinforce the cornea and limbus. The manner of integration and degree of reinforcement varied significantly depending on the direction along which the limbus was approached. We also employed small-angle x-ray scattering to measure the average collagen fibril diameter from central cornea to limbus at 0.5 mm intervals. Fibril diameter was constant across the central 6 mm. More peripherally, fibril diameter increased, indicative of a merging of corneal and scleral collagen. The point of increase varied with direction, consistent with a scheme in which the oblique corneal periphery is reinforced by chords of scleral collagen. The results have implications for the cornea's biomechanical response to ocular surgeries involving peripheral incision.