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In vivo three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy of the epithelial nerve structure in the human cornea

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Abstract

Purpose

Evaluation of a new method for in vivo visualization of the distribution and morphology of human anterior corneal nerves.

Method

The anterior cornea was examined to a depth of 100 μm in four human volunteers with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) using a Rostock Cornea Module (developed in house) attached to a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). Optical sections were digitally reconstructed in 3D using AMIRA (TGS Inc., USA). The scanned volumes had a greatest size of 300×300×40 µm and voxel size of 0.78×0.78×0.95 µm.

Results

The spatial arrangement of the epithelium, nerves and keratocytes was visualized by in vivo 3D-CLSM. The 3D-reconstruction of the volunteers’ corneas in combination with the oblique sections gave a picture of the nerves in the central human cornea. Thin nerves run in the subepithelial plexus aligned parallel to Bowman’s layer and are partially interconnected. The diameter of these fibres varied between 1.0 and 5 µm. Thick fibres rose out of the deeper stroma. The diameter of the main nerve trunks was 12±2 µm. Branches penetrating the anterior epithelial cell layer could not be visualized.

Conclusions

3D-CLSM allows analysis of the spatial arrangement of the anterior corneal nerves and visualization of the epithelium and keratocytes in the living human cornea. The developed method provides a basis for further studies of alterations of the cellular arrangement and epithelial innervation in corneal disease. This may help to clarify alterations of nerve fibre patterns under various clinical and experimental conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rostock, Doberaner Strasse 140, 18057, Rostock, Germany

    Oliver Stachs, Andrey Zhivov, Robert Kraak, Joachim Stave & Rudolf Guthoff

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  1. Oliver Stachs
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  2. Andrey Zhivov
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  3. Robert Kraak
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  4. Joachim Stave
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  5. Rudolf Guthoff
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Correspondence to Oliver Stachs.

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Stachs, O., Zhivov, A., Kraak, R. et al. In vivo three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy of the epithelial nerve structure in the human cornea. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 245, 569–575 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0387-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0387-2

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