Korean J Ophthalmol.  1999 Jun;13(1):1-6. 10.3341/kjo.1999.13.1.1.

Distribution of proteoglycans in the human trabecular meshwork: histochemical electron microscopic findings with cuprolinic blue

• Ko MK
• Kim DS
• Shin JC

• KMID: 1081829
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.1999.13.1.1

Abstract

The distribution of sulfated proteoglycans (PGs) in the normal human trabecular meshwork was studied by histochemical electron microscopy using the cationic dye, cuprolinic blue (CB). The trabecular meshwork was obtained from human enucleated eyes and incubated for three days. After incubation, they were stained with 0.2% CB at a critical electrolyte concentration and prepared for histochemical electron microscopy. Ultrastructurally, PG-CB complexes were found as small punctate or filamentous structures, and were associated with collagen fibrils in the cores of the trabecular beams and the basal laminae of trabecular endothelial cells. In addition, large filamentous PG-CB complexes were mainly associated with areas of amorphous extracellular matrix between the collagen fiber bundles and in the fine fibrillar material near the basal laminae of endothelial cells of Schlemm's canal. This investigation resulted in an illustration of the ultrastructural distribution of PGs in the human trabecular meshwork. Further studies will be needed to specify the nature of PGs and their role in the aqueous outflow system.

Keyword

Cuprolinic blue; Proteoglycans; Trabecular meshwork; Ultrastructure

MeSH Terms

Cells, Cultured
Comparative Study
Copper/diagnostic use*
Dyes/diagnostic use*
Endothelium/ultrastructure
Endothelium/metabolism
Human
Indoles/diagnostic use*
Infant
Middle Age
Organometallic Compounds/diagnostic use*
Proteoglycans/ultrastructure
Proteoglycans/metabolism*
Tissue Donors
Trabecular Meshwork/ultrastructure
Trabecular Meshwork/metabolism*