Distribution and characterization of proteoglycans associated with exfoliation material.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the distribution of proteoglycans in the exfoliation materials in order to investigate the nature of the materials.


METHODS
The anterior parts of two eyes with exfoliation syndrome were examined by electron microscopy after staining with cupromeronic blue (cmb). Some specimens were treated with enzymes and/or nitrous acid prior to staining. The effects of the enzymes were evaluated statistically by counting the density of the cmb-positive filaments in the exfoliation materials, using a computer. One eye with exfoliation syndrome stained with alcian blue was observed with light microscopy.


RESULTS
Exfoliation materials were observed along the epithelial cells of the iris and ciliary body, and in the trabecular meshwork and zonules. In tissue specimens treated with cmb, electron-dense filaments were seen associated with the exfoliation materials. Microfibrils in the trabecular meshwork and iris, and zonular fibrils themselves were free of any filament staining, while the exfoliation materials located closely to the fibrils contained the electron-dense filaments. In the tissue specimens treated with chondroitinase AC, chondroitinase B, chondroitinase ABC or nitrous acid before cmb staining, the amount of the filament associated with exfoliation materials decreased in comparison to the controls. Digestion with keratinase did not demonstrate any significant changes in staining. A combination treatment with chondroitinase ABC and nitrous acid eliminated almost all filaments associated with the exfoliation materials. In the eye stained with alcian blue, the zonules that did not stain for the dye demonstrated an accumulation of exfoliation materials that stained strongly for alcian blue.


CONCLUSIONS
Exfoliation materials contain chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Depositions of proteoglycans on the microfibrils may be closely associated with the formation of exfoliation materials.
Tawara
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Fujisawa
K
K
Kiyosawa
R
R
Inomata
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000423:Alcian Blue; D002808:Chondroitin Lyases / Q000494:pharmacology; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D007498:Iris / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D009608:Nitrous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000494:pharmacology
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007211:Indoles; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011509:Proteoglycans; C015445:copper phthalocyanine; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C026093:keratan-sulfate endo-1,4-beta-galactosidase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D002808:Chondroitin Lyases; D000423:Alcian Blue; D009608:Nitrous Acid