巩膜胚后发育过程中巩膜组织结构及生物力学特性变化

目的 探讨兔巩膜组织在不同月龄期的形态结构及生物力学性能变化。方法 选择1、2、3月龄新西兰大白兔，取眼球，测量眼球直径和眼轴长度；获取巩膜组织，测量巩膜组织厚度，一部分巩膜组织固定后进行HE染色观察巩膜结构，一部分巩膜组织固定后通过电镜观察胶原原纤维，另一部分巩膜组织制成巩膜条带，用Instron 5544试验机检测巩膜的弹性模量。结果 眼球直径、眼轴长度和巩膜的厚度随月龄增加而增大。巩膜组织的弹性模量随月龄增加而增大。巩膜组织中巩膜成纤维细胞数量随月龄增加而减少，纤维束增多变粗。胶原原纤维直径随月龄增加而增大。结论 在巩膜胚后生长过程中，眼球和巩膜的结构不断发生变化，胶原纤维不断增多、变粗，巩膜组织的生物力学性能也随之提高，了解巩膜胚后生长发育机制可为巩膜相关疾病的防治提供理论指导。
Objective To investigate the changes of morphological structures and biomechanical properties of scleral tissues in rabbits at different month ages. Methods The eyeballs of 1, 2 and 3 month-old New Zealand white rabbits were obtained for measuring the diameter and axial length, and the thickness of scleral tissues. Part of the scleral tissues was used to observe scleral structures with HE staining, some other part was used to observe collagen fibrils by electron microscope, and the left part were cut into strips and used to test the elastic modulus of the sclera on Instron 5544 system. Results The diameter, axial length of eyeballs and the thickness of the sclera were increased with month age. The elastic modulus of scleral tissues was also increased with month age. The numbers of scleral fibroblasts were decreased and the numbers of fiber bundles were increased with month age. The diameters of collagen fibrils were increased with month age. Conclusions In the post-embryonic stages, the structures of eyeball and sclera are changed continually, with growing numbers of thicker collagen fibers, and the biomechanical properties of scleral tissues are improved correspondingly. The mechanism of post-embryonic development in sclera is further explained in the study, which can provide theoretical guidance for prevention of sclera-related diseases.