Ultrastructure collagen fibril organization in vitreous and the effect of plasmin on it / 中华眼底病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To reveal the fibrillar network in vitreous and the effect of plasmin on this network. Methods 20 vitreous gels of freshly slaughtered pigs were divided into 2 groups, the gels in first group were digested by 3 U plasmin (3 U/ml) at 37℃ for 24 hours respectively, the second group received the same PBS as control. After digestion, gels were fixed in neutral buffered formalin solution. Samples from vitreous base, cortex and the central region were observed by the technique of freeze etching electron microscopy. Results In vitreous collagen fibril network was in a three-dimensional array, collagen fibril density showed marked differences, central vitreous had the sparse fibril density, the cortex denser and the basal vitreous densest. After digestion by plasmin, the collagen fibrillar network was destructed. Conclusion Collagen fibrils in vitreous present spatial arrangement regularly, plasmin can lead to destruction of the fibrillar network.