Aghamohammadzadeh Hossein, Newton Richard H, Meek Keith M
Structural Biophysics Group, Cardiff School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK.
Structure. 2004 Feb;12(2):249-56. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2004.01.002.
Many properties of connective tissues are governed by the organization of the constituent collagen. For example, the organization of collagen in the cornea and the limbus, where the cornea and sclera meet, is an important determinant of corneal curvature and hence of the eye's focusing power. We have used synchrotron X-ray scattering to map the orientation of the collagen fibrils throughout the human cornea, limbus, and adjacent sclera. We demonstrate a preferred orientation of collagen in the vertical and horizontal directions that is maintained to within about 1 mm from the limbus, where a circular or tangential disposition of fibrils occurs. The data are also used to map the relative distribution of both the total and the preferentially aligned collagen in different parts of the tissue, revealing considerable anisotropy. The detailed structural information provided is an important step toward understanding the shape and the mechanical properties of the tissue.
结缔组织的许多特性都由其组成胶原蛋白的组织结构所决定。例如，角膜与巩膜相交处的角膜和角膜缘中胶原蛋白的组织结构，是角膜曲率进而也是眼睛聚焦能力的重要决定因素。我们利用同步加速器X射线散射技术绘制了整个人类角膜、角膜缘及相邻巩膜中胶原纤维的取向图。我们证明了胶原蛋白在垂直和水平方向上存在优先取向，这种取向在距角膜缘约1毫米范围内保持不变，而在角膜缘处纤维呈圆形或切向排列。这些数据还用于绘制组织不同部位总胶原蛋白和优先排列胶原蛋白的相对分布，揭示了相当大的各向异性。所提供的详细结构信息是迈向理解该组织形状和力学性能的重要一步。
