Abstract
The cornea relies on its organised extracellular matrix for maintaining transparency and biomechanical strength. Studies have identified an elastic fibre system within the human posterior cornea, thought to allow for slight deformations in response to internal pressure fluctuations within the eye. However, the type of elastic fibres that exist within the cornea and their roles remain elusive. The aim of this study was to compare the distribution and organisation of the elastic fibres within the posterior peripheral mouse and human cornea, and elucidate how these fibres integrate with the trabecular meshwork, whilst characterising the distribution of their main likely components (fibrillin-1, elastin and type VI collagen) in different parts of the cornea and adjacent sclera.We identified key differences in the elastic fibre system between the human and mouse cornea. True elastic fibres (containing elastin) were identified within the human posterior peripheral cornea. Elastic fibres appeared to present as an extensive network throughout the mouse corneal stroma, but as fibrillin-rich microfibril bundles rather than true elastic fibres. However, tropoelastin staining indicated the possibility that true elastic fibres had yet to develop in the young mice studied. Differences were also apparent within the anatomy of the trabecular meshwork. The human trabecular meshwork appeared to insert between the corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane, with elastic fibres continuing into the stroma from the trabecular meshwork anterior to Descemet's membrane. Within the mouse cornea, no clear insertion point of the trabecular meshwork was seen, instead the elastic fibres within the trabecular meshwork continued into Descemet's membrane, with the trabecular meshwork joining posterior to Descemet's membrane.
Highlights
The cornea enables vision by providing two-thirds of the eye's refractive power (Ganguli et al, 1975)
Mouse cornea serial block face-scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) reconstructions of the elastic fibre system revealed a concentrated network of elastic tissue directly anterior to Descemet's membrane, with individual elastic fibres presenting throughout the corneal stroma
The elastic fibre system was more extensive in the mouse cornea compared to previous reconstructions of the human elastic fibre system
Summary
The cornea enables vision by providing two-thirds of the eye's refractive power (Ganguli et al, 1975). Elastic fibres (which are essentially bundles of fibrillin-rich microfibrils with or without an amorphous central core of elastin) have specific functions in different tissues, but their main role includes providing elastic properties, whilst regulating the bioavailability of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) (Baldwin et al, 2013). These elastic properties allow tissues to deform and return to their original configuration when subjected to external forces (Kielty et al, 2002).
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