Hernandez M R, Luo X X, Andrzejewska W, Neufeld A H
Ophthalmic Pharmacology Unit, Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA 02114.
Am J Ophthalmol. 1989 May 15;107(5):476-84. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(89)90491-1.
By using immunofluorescent staining we were able to characterize the age-related changes in the macromolecules making up the extracellular matrix of the lamina cribrosa of the human optic nerve head. As the cores of the cribriform plates enlarged with age, there were age-related increases in the apparent density of collagen types I and III and elastin that constituted the connective tissue support of the nerve bundles. Collagen type IV coated the cribriform plates as basement membranes and was also present within the cores as a fine filamentous network, which increased in density with age as the cribriform plates expanded. As this tissue ages, individual differences leading to more or less of a particular macromolecule of the extracellular matrix may alter the support function of the lamina cribrosa and influence the degeneration of the optic nerve associated with glaucoma.
通过免疫荧光染色，我们能够描述构成人类视神经乳头筛板细胞外基质的大分子随年龄变化的特征。随着筛板核心随年龄增大，构成神经束结缔组织支撑的I型和III型胶原蛋白以及弹性蛋白的表观密度出现与年龄相关的增加。IV型胶原蛋白作为基底膜覆盖在筛板上，并且也以细丝状网络的形式存在于核心内，随着筛板扩张，其密度随年龄增加。随着这种组织老化，导致细胞外基质中特定大分子或多或少的个体差异可能会改变筛板的支撑功能，并影响与青光眼相关的视神经变性。
