Localization of thrombomodulin in a rabbit eye.

Abstract

To show the distribution of an anticoagulant factor, thrombomodulin, in a rabbit eye. Immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal anti-rabbit thrombomodulin antibody was performed with the excised eyes of pigmented adult rabbits. Streptavidin-biotin method was used to obtain intense staining. The endothelium of the chorioretinal vessels showed positive linear staining. The ciliary non-pigmented epithelium showed granular staining, while the pigmented epithelium stained negatively. The positive staining was also detected in the trabecular plexus endothelium. The vascular endothelium of the ciliary body stained weakly. It is suggested that thrombomodulin in the vessel walls and the aqueous drainage apparatus works to maintain normal blood fluidity and aqueous outflow. The role of nonvascular thrombomodulin in the ciliary non-pigmented epithelium is unclear.