title: [Study on the structure and function of inferior oblique connective tissue in different mammals].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research lied in studying the structure and function of connective tissue of inferior oblique (IO) in rhesus, rabbit and rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was an experimental study. Two adult monkeys (rhesus), five adult rabbits and five adult Wistar rats were involved in this study. The gross anatomy of an orbit in each animal was observed. Meanwhile, the fellow orbit was processed with paraffin imbedding and coronal serial section. Masson trichrome stain was used to distinguish muscle and collagen, and Weigert stain was performed for identification of elastin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The connective tissue around IO muscle in rhesus, rabbits and rats all connected with inferior rectus (IR) and lateral rectus (LR), but the arrangements among them were not entirely similar. Only the connective tissue around IO in rhesus consisted of dense collagen, scattered elastic fiber, and connected closely with IR, LR Pulley. The connective tissue circling IO in rabbit and rat were crumbly, and was not connected closely with the connective tissue around IR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IR and LR Pulley has some mechanics link with IO in rhesus, and can play roles in covergence in rhesus.
authors.affiliation: Clinical College of Ophthalmology of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Eye Hospital and Institute, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin 300020, China.
authors.forename: Chun-hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Kan-xing
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jin-yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar