IOVS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ulshafer, R. J.
Right arrow Articles by Rubin, M. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ulshafer, R. J.
Right arrow Articles by Rubin, M. L.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Vol 28, 683-689, Copyright © 1987 by Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

ARTICLES AND REPORTS

Scanning electron microscopy of human drusen

RJ Ulshafer, CB Allen, B Nicolaissen Jr and ML Rubin

Drusen are small, yellowish deposits that form under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with senescence or under certain pathological conditions. The present study examined these structures under the scanning electron microscope. Tissue came from four eyes of 66- and 75- year-old donors who demonstrated widespread drusen of the posterior fundus noted on postmortem examination. Specimens were prepared by either detaching the RPE from Bruch's membrane, or by cryofracturing the tissue for cross-sectional views. Drusen appeared to be composed of irregularly-shaped globular masses and of distinct spherical entities. These particles varied greatly in size, and were situated between the RPE's basement membrane and the outer collagenous zone of Bruch's membrane. Surface views showed drusen components to be embedded in the collagenous zone of Bruch's membrane. Pits corresponding to the sizes of the globular and spherical masses imply that some particles were lost during tissue processing. Fractured cross sections of the irregularly-shaped globular masses revealed a homogeneous, granular matrix with no distinct ultrastructural features, while some of the fractured spherical components demonstrated an internal core. Transmission electron microscopic analysis on the same specimens that were subjected to SEM corroborated these observations. Analytical x-ray microanalysis (Kevex, Foster City, CA) in the SEM revealed major peaks for calcium and phosphorous in the crystalline spherical components, and primarily potassium and chloride in the globular structures.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 IOVSHome page
I. Lengyel, A. Tufail, H. A. Hosaini, P. Luthert, A. C. Bird, and G. Jeffery
Association of Drusen Deposition with Choroidal Intercapillary Pillars in the Aging Human Eye
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2004; 45(9): 2886 - 2892.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
L. V. Johnson, W. P. Leitner, A. J. Rivest, M. K. Staples, M. J. Radeke, and D. H. Anderson
The Alzheimer's Abeta -peptide is deposited at sites of complement activation in pathologic deposits associated with aging and age-related macular degeneration
PNAS, September 3, 2002; 99(18): 11830 - 11835.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1987 by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology