학술논문
Localization of the site of major resistance to fluid transport in Bruch's membrane.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Starita C; Department of Ophthalmology, United Medical and Dental School of Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.; Hussain AA; Patmore A; Marshall J
Source
Publisher: Association For Research In Vision And Ophthalmology (Arvo) Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7703701 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0146-0404 (Print) Linking ISSN: 01460404 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0146-0404
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the site of highest resistance to the movement of water across Bruch's membrane in humans.
Methods: A hydraulic conductivity chamber was designed that enabled us to measure flow across Bruch's membrane while ablating its subepithelial aspect using an excimer laser (193 nm). When resistance was lost, samples were fixed and processed for electron microscopy.
Results: Changes in the hydraulic conductivity of Bruch's membrane in response to the excimer-mediated sequential removal of tissue layers was studied in four control eyes of donors 26, 46, 61, and 76 years of age and in one eye of an 83-year-old donor with age-related macular degeneration. The number of laser pulses required to abolish the resistance in Bruch's membrane was found to be dependent on the age of the donor. The ablation rate was approximately 0.11 micron per pulse. Loss of resistance correlated with removal of layers internal to the layer of elastin.
Conclusions: This study indicates that the inner collage-nous layer imparts the major resistance to fluid movement between the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroid. Aging changes in the ultrastructure of these compartments could be responsible for the decrease in hydraulic conductivity observed in early life in previous studies.
Methods: A hydraulic conductivity chamber was designed that enabled us to measure flow across Bruch's membrane while ablating its subepithelial aspect using an excimer laser (193 nm). When resistance was lost, samples were fixed and processed for electron microscopy.
Results: Changes in the hydraulic conductivity of Bruch's membrane in response to the excimer-mediated sequential removal of tissue layers was studied in four control eyes of donors 26, 46, 61, and 76 years of age and in one eye of an 83-year-old donor with age-related macular degeneration. The number of laser pulses required to abolish the resistance in Bruch's membrane was found to be dependent on the age of the donor. The ablation rate was approximately 0.11 micron per pulse. Loss of resistance correlated with removal of layers internal to the layer of elastin.
Conclusions: This study indicates that the inner collage-nous layer imparts the major resistance to fluid movement between the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroid. Aging changes in the ultrastructure of these compartments could be responsible for the decrease in hydraulic conductivity observed in early life in previous studies.