title: The three-dimensional organisation of the post-trabecular aqueous outflow pathway and limbal vasculature in the mouse.
abstract: The mouse eye has been used as a model for studies on the microanatomy of the outflow pathways but most of what is known comes from histological sections. These studies have focused mainly on the morphological features of the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal and aqueous channels that link to the superficial episcleral vasculature. However, the anatomical architecture of the aqueous outflow vessels and their relationship to each other and to the general vascular circulation is not well understood. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed description of the microarchitecture of the aqueous outflow vessels and their relationship to the superficial limbal/episcleral vasculature throughout the entire limbus. The aqueous outflow vessels and blood and lymphatic vessels were imaged in PECAM-1 and LYVE-1 immunostained whole anterior segments of adult mice and three-dimensional (3-D) reconstructions of the optical sections were generated to reveal the aqueous, blood and lymphatic architecture. The arterial supply, venous drainage, organisation of perilimbal vasculature, collector channels/aqueous veins and the morphology of Schlemm's canal were revealed in their entirety and the relationships between these structures is described. Schlemm's canal was PECAM-1 positive but there was no affinity for the lymphatic marker LYVE-1. We show that Schlemm's canal is a continuous circular structure and more often seen as a single, broad, varicose vessel with short regions appearing as a plexus. Aqueous veins link Schlemm's canal to the superficial vasculature and there were no direct links seen between the canal and the lymphatic vessels.
authors: Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925 Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: elizabeth.vandermerwe@uct.ac.za.
authors: Elizabeth L
authors: EL
authors: van der Merwe
authors: Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925 Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Susan H
authors: SH
authors: Kidson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000098:blood supply*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D023421:Models, Animal
keywords: PECAM-1; Schlemm's canal; aqueous outflow vessels/pathway; limbal vasculature; mouse eye