Ultrastructural distribution of collagen types I-VI in aging human retinal vessels.

Retinal vessels from freshly enucleated human eyes were classified into three stages of the hyalinisation process. The distribution of collagen types I-VI within the vessel walls was studied ultrastructurally by immunogold labelling combined with the tissue preparation techniques of cryoultramicrotomy and London resin white embedding. Collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI were found in large vessels, types I, IV, and V plus small amounts of III and VI in small vessels, and types I, IV, and V in capillaries. Hyalinised vessel walls consisted mainly of types I, IV, and VI collagen.