Ultrastructure of surgically excised subfoveal neovascular membranes.

Kim,  Kwang Soo; Oh,  Joon Sup; Kwak,  Jung Sik

doi:1996.10.2.76

Korean J Ophthalmol > Volume 10(2); 1996 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Ophthalmology 1996;10(2):76-81.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.1996.10.2.76 Published online December 30, 1996.

Ultrastructure of surgically excised subfoveal neovascular membranes.

Kwang Soo Kim, Joon Sup Oh, Jung Sik Kwak

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Taegu, Korea.
²Department of Pathology, Kyungbook National University School of Medicine, Taegu, Korea.

Abstract

We studied the ultrastructural features of four consecutive subfoveal neovascularmembranes (SFNM) associated with age-related macular degeneration. Cellular components of the membranes included retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, endothelium-lined vascular channels, macrophages, myofibroblasts, fibrocytes, glial cells, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes. Extracellular interstitial constituents included collagen fibrils, basal laminar deposits, fibrin and young elastic fibrils. These findings show that SFNMs consist of various cells originating from surrounding tissues and vessels. Among these RPE cells and macrophages are the main cellular components and in conjunction with various extracellular matrix, especially collagen, may play an important role in the formation and maintenance of the membranes.

Key Words: age-related macular degeneration;subfoveal neovascular membrane;ultrastructural feature