Kozak Igor, Bron Anthony J, Kucharova Karolina, Kluchova Darina, Marsala Martin, Heichel Chris W, Tiffany John M
University of California San Diego, Shiley Eye Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Cornea. 2007 Jun;26(5):610-4. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318041f0d2.
To study the microscopic structure of postmortem human Meibomian glands (MGs) in the elderly.
Human MG samples from left lower eyelids were obtained at autopsy from 5 men and 4 women with a mean age of 63.1 +/- 7.67 years. The tissues were fixed and embedded in paraffin. Serial transverse sections 5 mum thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), van Gieson, and Masson blue stains. Computer-assisted 3-dimensional reconstructions of MGs were performed, and morphologic and volumetric data were analyzed.
The average length of human MGs in the nasal, central, and temporal areas was 1.551 +/- 0.43, 1.654 +/- 0.47, and 1.594 +/- 0.57 mm, respectively. The average surface area of the glands in the nasal, central, and temporal areas was 0.029 +/- 0.03, 0.033 +/- 0.01, and 0.056 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively. The average volume of glands in the nasal, central, and temporal areas was 0.054 +/- 00.4, 0.056 +/- 0.03, and 0.053 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively. A circular, floral arrangement of acini, surrounding the terminal duct just deep to the skin, is probably responsible for the circular arrangement seen clinically around each healthy orifice. We confirmed that most glands are embedded within a cylindrical, connective tissue matrix.
We report the dimensions of normal Meibomian acini in an older population. Some structural features observed may explain normal physiologic landmarks or contribute to glandular pathophysiology.
研究老年人尸检睑板腺（MGs）的微观结构。
从5名男性和4名女性尸检中获取左下眼睑的人MG样本，平均年龄为63.1±7.67岁。组织经固定后石蜡包埋。制作5μm厚的连续横切片，用苏木精-伊红（H&E）、范吉森和马松蓝染色。对MGs进行计算机辅助三维重建，并分析形态学和体积数据。
鼻侧、中央和颞侧人MGs的平均长度分别为1.551±0.43、1.654±0.47和1.594±0.57mm。鼻侧、中央和颞侧腺体的平均表面积分别为0.029±0.03、0.033±0.01和0.056±0.03mm。鼻侧、中央和颞侧腺体的平均体积分别为0.054±0.04、0.056±0.03和0.053±0.03mm。腺泡呈圆形、花环状排列，围绕着皮肤深层的终末导管，这可能是临床上在每个健康开口周围看到的圆形排列的原因。我们证实大多数腺体嵌入圆柱形结缔组织基质中。
我们报告了老年人群中正常睑板腺泡的尺寸。观察到的一些结构特征可能解释正常的生理标志或有助于腺体病理生理学研究。
