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Electron microscopic studies on zonular fibers

II. Changes of the zonular fibers after the treatment with collagenase, α-chymotrypsin and hyaluronidase

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Summary

Adult rabbit zonular fibers maintained in their native condition were treated with collagenase, α-chymotrypsin and hyaluronidase, and were observed with the electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows:

  1. 1.

    Collagenase digested the lens capsule, but not the zonular fibers.

  2. 2.

    Long time collagenase action obscured the cell membrane of the lens epithelium and the basal lamina of the ciliary epithelium.

  3. 3.

    Washing with 0.9% NaCl increased the collagenase action on the lens capsule.

  4. 4.

    α-chymotrypsin digested the zonular fibers and the zonular lemalla, but not the lens capsule and the basal lamina of the ciliary epithelium.

  5. 5.

    Hyaluronidase only slightly changed the lens capsule.

  6. 6.

    The vitreous fibers were digested by collagenase, but not by α-chymotrypsin or hyaluronidase.

These results together with the review of recent literature indicate that the zonular fiber has a nature close to that of the microfibril of elastic fiber.

Zusammenfassung

Die Zonula-Fasern erwachsener Kaninchen wurden in ihrem natürlichen Zustand belassen und den Enzymen Kollagenase, α-Chymotrypsin und Hyaluronidase ausgesetzt. Die folgenden Veränderungen konnten elektronenmikroskopisch beobachtet werden:

  1. 1.

    Kollagenase verdaut die Linsenkapsel, aber nicht die Zonula-Fasern.

  2. 2.

    Langdauernde Einwirkung der Kollagenase trübt die Zellmembran des Linsenepithels und die Basalmembran des Ziliarkörperepithels.

  3. 3.

    Waschen mit 0,9% NaCl verstärkt die Kollagenasewirkung auf die Linsenkapsel.

  4. 4.

    α-Chymotrypsin verdaut die Zonula-Fasern und die Zonula-Lamelle, aber weder die Linsenkapsel, noch die Basalmembran des Ziliarkörperepithels.

  5. 5.

    Hyluronidase verändert die Linsenkapsel nur wenig.

  6. 6.

    Die Glaskörperfibrillen werden durch Kollagenase verdaut, aber nicht durch α-Chymotrypsin und nicht durch Hyluronidase.

Diese experimentellen Resultate in Verbindung mit einer Übersicht über die jüngere Literatur zeigen, daß die Zonula-Fasern ähnlich gebaut sind wie die Mikrofibrillen der elastischen Fasern.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 10032, New York, New York

    Yoichi Takei M.D. & George K. Smelser

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University, School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-cho, 980, Sendai-shi, Japan

    Yoichi Takei M.D.

Authors
  1. Yoichi Takei M.D.
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  2. George K. Smelser
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by National Institutes of Health Research Grants Nos. EY 00184 and EY 00190 and Public Health Service Research Career Program Award No. EY 19609, all from the National Eye Institute.

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Takei, Y., Smelser, G.K. Electron microscopic studies on zonular fibers. Albrecht von Graefes Arch. Klin. Ophthalmol. 194, 153–173 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496873

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