The structure of the trabecular meshwork, its connections to the ciliary muscle, and the effect of pilocarpine on outflow facility in mice

Overby DR, Bertrand J, Schicht M, Paulsen F, Stamer WD, Lütjen-Drecoll E (2014)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

Publisher: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

Book Volume: 55

Pages Range: 3727-36

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-13699

Abstract

To determine the connections between the ciliary muscle (CM), trabecular meshwork (TM), and Schlemm's canal (SC) and their innervations that allows CM contraction (by pilocarpine) to influence conventional outflow in mice.Sequential sections and whole mounts of murine corneoscleral angles were stained for elastin, ?-smooth muscle actin (?SMA), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Elastic (EL) fibers between the CM, TM, and SC were examined in ultrathin, sequential sections from different planes. The effect of pilocarpine (100 ?M) on conventional outflow facility was measured by perfusion of enucleated mouse eyes.The mouse TM contains a three-dimensional (3D) net of EL fibers connecting the inner wall of SC to the cornea anteriorly, the ciliary body (CB) internally and the choroid and CM posteriorly. The CM bifurcates near the posterior TM, extending outer tendons to the juxtacanalicular tissue and inner wall of SC and internal connections to the lamellated TM and CB. Ciliary muscle and lamellated TM cells stain with ?SMA and are innervated by VAChT-containing nerve fibers, without TH, VIP, or nNOS. Pilocarpine doubled outflow facility.Mouse eyes resemble primate eyes not only by their well developed SC and TM, but also by their 3D EL net tethering together the TM and SC inner wall and by the tendinous insertion of the CM into this net. The increase in outflow facility following cholinergic stimulation in mice, as in primates, supports using mice for studies of aqueous humor dynamics and glaucoma.

Authors with CRIS profile

Martin Schicht Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie Friedrich Paulsen Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie Elke Lütjen-Drecoll Medizinische Fakultät

Involved external institutions

Imperial College London / The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine GB United Kingdom (GB) Duke University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Overby, D.R., Bertrand, J., Schicht, M., Paulsen, F., Stamer, W.D., & Lütjen-Drecoll, E. (2014). The structure of the trabecular meshwork, its connections to the ciliary muscle, and the effect of pilocarpine on outflow facility in mice. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 55(6), 3727-36. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.13-13699

MLA:

Overby, Darryl R., et al. "The structure of the trabecular meshwork, its connections to the ciliary muscle, and the effect of pilocarpine on outflow facility in mice." Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 55.6 (2014): 3727-36.

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