title: [Three-dimensional observation of elastic tissue in Bruch's membrane by formic acid extraction].
abstract: Japanese monkey and albino rabbit choroid were treated with hot-formic acid to remove the cellular elements and the extracellular matrices excluding the elastic tissues so that both three-dimensional and bird's eye views of the elastic layer of Bruch's membrane could be obtained. The only elastic layer was extracted and observed with a scanning electron microscope. Elastic layers were frequently extracted as translucent monolayered sheets with oval, sector-shaped fenestrations of varying sizes. Elastic fibers of 100-200nm in diameter crossed each other in these fenestrations. Other fine fibers connecting these elastic fibers and their sheet-like elastic plate were also observed. In Japanese monkey eyes, lattice structures formed by thick elastic fibers, 200-300nm in diameter, were conspicuous. This method proved suitable for the observation of the three-dimensional structure of the elastic layer of Bruch's membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dote
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002829:Choroid / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005561:Formates; D006652:Histological Techniques; D008251:Macaca; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid