Secretory component in human ocular tissues.

Lacrimal tissue and accessory lacrimal tissue from seven autopsy cases, lacrimal tissue from three patients undergoing orbital exploration, and biopsy specimens from conjunctiva of 14 subjects were examined for the presence and distribution of secretory component by three anti-secretory-component antisera. Secretory component was present in all lacrimal and accessory lacrimal tissues but in no other ocular tissues. Over 60% of acinar cells stained for secretory component; about 5% of acinar cells stained brightly; about 30% of tubular cells stained brightly. Main and accessory lacrimal tissues appeared identical in their staining patterns. We concluded that the main sites of synthesis of secretory IgA in human ocular tissues are the lacrimal and accessory lacrimal tissues.