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


     

(Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2004;45:1660-1666.)
© 2004 by The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.
DOI:  10.1167/iovs.03-0913
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
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
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
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 ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Guymer, R. H.
Right arrow Articles by Hageman, G. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Guymer, R. H.
Right arrow Articles by Hageman, G. S.

Cytoarchitecture of Choroidal Capillary Endothelial Cells

Robyn H. Guymer,1 Alan C. Bird,2 and Gregory S. Hageman3

1From the Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 2The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College, London, United Kingdom; and 3The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

PURPOSE. To describe the cytoarchitecture of the choroidal capillary endothelial cells, especially as it relates to cellular processes that protrude through the basal lamina into Bruch’s membrane (BM).

METHODS. Human donor eyes and monkey and hamster eyes were examined by transmission electron microscopy and freeze-fracture replication. The number of endothelial cell processes and the characteristics of the processes and surrounding structures were determined in the maculae of human eyes and correlated with age-related changes in neighboring structures.

RESULTS. Endothelial cell processes were observed in eyes of all species examined and at all ages. They typically occurred at sites of focally thickened, nonfenestrated regions of the endothelial cells. The basal lamina adjacent to the processes was often hypertrophic and associated deposits of long-spacing collagen (LSC) were observed frequently. In humans, there was no correlation between the number of processes per 100 µm of the BM with age, sex, cause of death, postmortem time, RPE autofluorescence, or RPE residual body content. There was a weak linear association with the thickness of the BM.

CONCLUSIONS. The finding of cellular processes of choroidal capillary endothelial cells penetrating their basal laminae is normal. These processes may serve to stabilize choroidal endothelial cells physically and play an important structural role in the maintenance of patency of the choriocapillaris. It is also possible that they have additional functions, as suggested for similar processes in other tissues. They are not necessarily the harbinger of choroidal neovascularization, although growth of new vessels may result from distortion of this normal attribute.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 NEJMHome page
P. T.V.M. de Jong
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
N. Engl. J. Med., October 5, 2006; 355(14): 1474 - 1485.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2004 by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology