Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 30, 2024

Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a common sight-threatening condition characterised by pathological changes in the posterior cornea. Here we report observations light, transmission and volume scanning electron microscopy on endothelium matrix associated with characteristic deformations of Descemet's membrane, termed guttae. Specimens were archived full-thickness human tissue, removed during graft surgery, that had been fixed, stained embedded conventional processing methods for examination more than 40-years previously. Intact samples can be extremely valuable where, as FECD, new cell-based therapy now avoid excision full cornea thickness any tissue excised inferior study. Volume microscopy, particular serial block face (SBF SEM), employing backscatter detection from resin-embedded specimens, has become an invaluable technique 3D imaging biological samples. However, specimens are normally considered unsuitable generate low yield. To overcome this SBF SEM, subjected epoxy to de-plastination, then applied additional contrasting agents, uranyl acetate lead acetate, prior re-embedding. Selected regions interest resin blocks examined microscope equipped SEM image datasets acquired. Enhanced contrast enabled reconstruction guttae membrane over large volumes.

Язык: Английский