Nerve terminals at the human corneoscleral limbus
Nerve terminals at the human corneoscleral limbus
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DOI：
10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311146
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发表时间：
2018-04-01
影响因子：
4.1
通讯作者：
Dua, Harminder S.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Al-Aqaba, Mouhamed A.;Anis, Fady S.;Dua, Harminder S.
目的观察人角巩膜利姆布斯缘上皮下致密神经末梢（CNE）的分布。所有样本均进行与神经组织中存在的内源性乙酰胆碱酯酶相关的酶组织化学染色和H&E染色。结果进入角巩膜利姆布斯和周边角膜的神经在2 mm范围内终止于上皮下，表现为多房多核的卵圆形结构。它们与角膜缘栅栏和角膜缘上皮隐窝的网栓密切相关，通常位于这些结构的特征性基质内陷内。它们的数量范围为每个角巩膜缘70至300个。大小在20 ~ 100 μ m之间。结论人角巩膜缘利姆布斯内存在一群形态特征明显的CNE样神经末梢。它们与角膜缘干细胞龛密切相关，表明对龛环境的潜在贡献。
Aims To demonstrate and characterise distinct subepithelial compact nerve endings (CNE) at the human corneoscleral limbus.Methods Ten fresh human donor corneoscleral discs (mean age, 67 years) and 26 organ-cultured corneoscleral rims (mean age, 59 years) were studied. All samples were subjected to enzyme histochemical staining related to endogenous acetylcholinesterase present in nerve tissue and H&E staining. Whole-mount en face imaging with NanoZoomer digital pathology microscope and serial cross-section imaging with light microscope were undertaken.Results Nerves entering the corneoscleral limbus and peripheral cornea terminate under the epithelium as enlarged multiloculated and multinucleated ovoid structures within a 2mm zone. They are closely associated with the rete pegs of the limbal palisades and the limbal epithelial crypts, often located within characteristic stromal invaginations of these structures. Their numbers ranged from 70 to 300 per corneoscleral rim. The size ranged from 20 to 100 mu m. They had one or more nerve connections and were interconnected to other similar endings and to the limbal nerve plexus.Conclusion Human corneoscleral limbus demonstrates a population of nerve terminals resembling CNE with distinct morphological features. They are closely associated with the limbal stem cell niches, suggesting a potential contribution to the niche environment.