Abstract
Purpose. To evaluate the possibility of application of electron microscopic analysis of human lacrimal fluid (LF) in the development of methods for early diagnosis and prognosis of ophthalmic diseases. Material and methods. Specimens of the reflex LF were collected from the lower conjunctival arch of eyes in 20 patients with a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, hyperopia, glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration, and pelleted by centrifugation. The liquid portion of LF was examined by the negative staining method, and the pellets were processed by the ultrathin sectioning method, and the sections were studied in the electron microscope JEM-1400 (JEOL, Japan). Results. The liquid portion of LF contained macromolecular aggregates, microparticles and exosomes, the number and morphology of which varied depending on the eye disease. Ultrathin sections of the LF pellets showed fibrous matrix, epithelial cells, lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, cell debris, and small roundish vesicles (150- 300 nm) on the surface bearing the protein «filaments» penetrating inside. The cellular composition of LF pellets varied depending on the disease of eye. Conclusions. Identification of the obvious differences in the content and morphology of the structural components of the LF indicates a high diagnostic potential of the LF. Electron microscopy of LF looks promising for a search of ultrastructural diagnostic and prognostic markers of ophthalmic diseases.
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