Three-dimensional arrangement of elastic fibers in the human corneal stroma.
Three-dimensional arrangement of elastic fibers in the human corneal stroma.
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.exer.2015.12.006
复制
发表时间：
2016-05
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Meek KM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Lewis PN;White TL;Young RD;Bell JS;Winlove CP;Meek KM
角膜是眼睛的主要折射透镜。作为外套膜的一部分，它必须具有弹性，这是由胶原蛋白组成的组织所赋予的特性。它还必须具有足够的弹性，以便在变形时恢复其精确的形状，以免扭曲视网膜图像。这种弹性的基础尚未完全理解。本研究的目的是用连续块面扫描电镜三维观察人角膜基质中弹性纤维的排列和分布。我们已经证明，存在一个复杂的弹性纤维网络，似乎起源于巩膜或利姆布斯。这些表现为利姆布斯和周边角膜中的弹性片，位于小梁网的正上方，小梁网本身似乎延伸到周边基质中的后弹力膜上方。弹性纤维从这些片层延伸到角膜中;它们向中心移动，分叉和三叉成较窄的纤维，并集中在后基质中，紧邻后弹力膜上方。我们认为，弹性片将发挥重要作用的生物力学变形和恢复的周边角膜。该网络还可能对理解许多角膜手术背后的结构基础具有实际意义。我们的特点是一个复杂的系统的弹性纤维在后角膜。这些细胞以薄片的形式存在于利姆布斯中，形成窗孔并成为角膜中的纤维。我们相信这些纤维在周围组织中提供弹性恢复力。这个系统应该有助于解释角膜的一些手术特性。
The cornea is the main refracting lens in the eye. As part of the outer tunic it has to be resilient, a property conferred by the organisation of the constituent collagen. It also has to be sufficiently elastic to regain its exact shape when deformed, in order not to distort the retinal image. The basis of this elasticity is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to characterise in three dimensions the arrangement and distribution of elastic fibers in the human corneal stroma, using serial block face scanning electron microscopy. We have demonstrated that there exists a complex network of elastic fibers that appear to originate in the sclera or limbus. These appear as elastic sheets in the limbus and peripheral cornea immediately above the trabecular meshwork which itself appears to extend above Descemet's membrane in the peripheral stroma. From these sheets, elastic fibers extend into the cornea; moving centrally they bifurcate and trifurcate into narrower fibers and are concentrated in the posterior stroma immediately above Descemet's membrane. We contend that elastic sheets will play an important role in the biomechanical deformation and recovery of the peripheral cornea. The network may also have practical implications for understanding the structural basis behind a number of corneal surgeries. We have characterised a complex system of elastic fibers in the posterior cornea. These exist as sheets in the limbus that fenestrate and become fibers in the cornea. We believe these fibers provide the elastic restoring force in the peripheral tissue. This system should help explain some surgical properties of the cornea.