X-RAY FIBER DIFFRACTION OF THE OPTIC NERVE HEAD & ITS MICROFIBRILLAR COMPONENTS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者的研究机构。 该项目的目的是使用X射线纤维衍射技术来表征和映射眼睛后部的纤维结缔组织结构，包括与视神经的连接。将检查健康（非进行性近视和非青光眼）与已知进行性近视、青光眼和视神经病变的年龄匹配组织的纤维超微结构的比较。具体目的是量化胶原分子间和原纤维间的间距。优选的纤维取向、丰度和组织将被表征并比较，以测试这些参数与屈光（进行性近视）或视力丧失（青光眼和视神经病变）方面的眼功能变化之间的相关性。 眼后部和视神经组织内超微结构的总体变化与青光眼有关，但与视力丧失的相关性尚不清楚。在X射线衍射提供的分子水平上了解这些组织的变化可以提高我们对这些胶原组织如何支持健康视力以及任何变化如何导致视力丧失的理解。 在这个新的水平上表征组织可以提高我们对视神经和周围巩膜组织结构的理解，并确定开发新治疗或干预措施的目标，或识别那些有风险的人。这些定量数据也将有利于正在开发的有限元模型，以了解眼后部的生物力学特性（唐斯等人）。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The aim of this project is to use X-Ray fiber diffraction techniques to characterize and map the fibrous connective tissue structure of the back of the eye including the junction with the optic nerve. Comparison of the fiber ultrastructures of healthy (non-progressive myopia and non-glaucoma) versus age-matched tissue with known progressive myopia, glaucoma and optic neuropathy will be examined. The specific aim is to quantify the collagen intermolecular and interfibrillar spacings. The preferred fiber orientation, abundance and organization will be characterized and compared to test for a correlation between these parameters and changes in ocular function in terms of refraction (progressive myopia) or loss of vision (glaucoma and optic neuropathy). Gross changes in the ultrastructures within the tissues of the back of the eye and optic nerve are associated with glaucoma, however the correlation with vision loss is not well understood. Understanding changes in these tissues at the molecular level provided by X-Ray diffraction could improve our understanding of how these collagenous tissues support healthy vision and how any changes could cause vision loss. Characterizing the tissue at this new level could improve our understanding of the structure of the optic nerve and surrounding scleral tissue, as well as identify targets to develop new treatments or interventions, or identify those at risk. These quantitative data will also benefit Finite Element Models that are being developed to understand the biomechanical properties of the back of the eye (Downs et al.).