Histological Characteristics of the Interface of Corneal Stroma and Descemet's Membrane.
- Author:
Jin Ho JANG
1
;
Hyung Ju PARK
;
Myung Kyoo KO
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. fovea@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Collagen filaments;
Descemet's membrane;
Electron microscopy;
Stroma
- MeSH:
Collagen;
Corneal Stroma*;
Descemet Membrane*;
Endothelium, Corneal;
Humans;
Microscopy, Electron;
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning;
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission;
Pathology;
Tissue Donors
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2003;44(7):1607-1612
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was carried out to clarify the histological characteristics of the interface of the corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane of the human eye. METHODS: Nighteen donor eyes without corneal pathology were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The Descemet's membrane including the corneal endothelium was cheked for scanning electron microscopy. The junctional characteristics of the posterior corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane was examined by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The scanning electron microscopy showed that collagen sheet faced each other at the right angle near the Descemet's membrane and penetrated the Descemet's membrane with the irregular arrangement. The transmission electron microscopy showed that the electron-dense collagen filaments extended to the posterior stroma from Descemet's membrane. The arrangement of electron-dense collagen filaments paralleled with the arrangement of the collagen fibrils of the posterior stroma. CONCLUSIONS: The interface of the corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane was composed of two-typed extracellular materials without the intercellular specificatons.