Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Exp Eye Res. 2012 Jan;94(1):90-7. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2011.11.011. Epub 2011 Nov 25.
The purpose of this study was to quantify the topographic distribution of bulbar conjunctival microlymphatic vessels in the monkey. Sixteen eyes from 8 rhesus monkeys were used. Full thickness pieces of globe wall were excised from each quadrant. Cryosections were stained for 5'-nucleotidase, an enzyme histochemical staining for lymphatic vessels, or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3, an immunohistochemical marker for the identification of lymphatic endothelial cells, and then counterstained by hematoxylin. The remaining bulbar conjunctiva was dissected and flat mounted. The tissue was then processed with 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme histochemical stain with higher activity in blood vessels. Microscope images were further analysed by image processing. The density of lymphatics, diameter of lymphatic vessels, and the size of the drainage zone of each blind end of the initial lymphatics were studied. Conjunctival lymphatics consisted of initial lymphatics and pre-collectors. The initial lymphatics with blind ends were predominately distributed just under the epithelium. The density of these lymphatics (∼50%) and the drainage zone area (∼0.81 mm(2)) was similar in each quadrant, with no difference in the limbus and fornix regions. The average diameter of lymphatic vessels in each quadrant ranged from 82 to 111 μm, and was greater in the superior and nasal regions. Larger calibre pre-collectors with valve-like structures were mostly located sub Tenon's membrane and predominantly located in the region mid-way between the limbus and fornix. There was a marked depth difference in initial lymphatic distribution, with the initial lymphatics mostly confined to the region between Tenon's membrane and the conjunctival epithelium. Detailed knowledge of the topographic distribution of conjunctival lymphatics have significant relevance to a better understanding of immunology, drug delivery, glaucoma filtration surgery, and tumour metastasis in the conjunctiva.
本研究旨在定量猴眼球结膜微淋巴管的拓扑分布。使用了 8 只恒河猴的 16 只眼睛。从每个象限切除全层眼球壁。冷冻切片用 5'-核苷酸酶（一种淋巴管酶组织化学染色剂）或血管内皮生长因子受体-3（一种用于识别淋巴管内皮细胞的免疫组织化学标志物）染色，然后用苏木精复染。剩余的球结膜被解剖并平铺。然后用 5'-核苷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶（一种血管中活性更高的酶组织化学染色剂）对组织进行处理。进一步通过图像处理分析显微镜图像。研究了淋巴管密度、淋巴管直径和每个初始淋巴管盲端的引流区大小。结膜淋巴管由初始淋巴管和前收集器组成。具有盲端的初始淋巴管主要分布在上皮下。这些淋巴管的密度（约 50%）和引流区面积（约 0.81mm²）在每个象限相似，在角膜缘和穹窿区域没有差异。每个象限的淋巴管平均直径范围为 82 至 111μm，在上方和鼻侧区域较大。具有瓣状结构的较大口径前收集器主要位于 Tenon 氏膜下，主要位于角膜缘和穹窿之间的中间区域。初始淋巴管的分布存在明显的深度差异，初始淋巴管主要局限于 Tenon 氏膜和结膜上皮之间的区域。详细了解结膜淋巴管的拓扑分布对于更好地理解免疫学、药物输送、青光眼滤过手术和结膜肿瘤转移具有重要意义。
