Background/Aim With the popularity of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) procedures, Descemet membrane (DM) EK and pre-Descemet EK, considerable work has been done on understanding the posterior corneal anatomy. Most of the information available relates to the central cornea. We evaluated the peripheral cornea to explore the immunohistological and anatomical relationship between the pre-Descemet layer (PDL), DM and trabecular meshwork (TM). Methods Six donor human sclerocorneal discs were studied. PDL, DM and TM were examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistology. The DM was peeled from the centre to the limit of its peripheral attachment, to reach the transition zone (TZ) between TM and peripheral cornea. Ten-micron sections were stained with antibodies against collagens 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, elastin, myocilin, wnt-1, aquaporin, tenascin C, laminin and integrin alpha 3. Results Collagens 2, 3, 4, laminin and myocilin were predominantly seen in the TZ between TM and peripheral cornea. Wnt-1, integrin alpha 3 and tenascin C were highly concentrated in TM. Collagen 1 was present predominantly in the corneal stroma. On TEM; DM was thinner with a denser banded structure spread throughout its thickness in the periphery compared with the central cornea where it presents as the distinct anterior banded layer. Conclusion The TZ between DM, PDL and TM shows a unique histological structure at the periphery. The collagen and elastin fibres of the TM are continuous with the PDL. The structures are firmly attached to each other. These findings provide structural information that is relevant to the preparation of DMEK donor tissue. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

中文翻译：

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角膜后周边层与小梁网的关系：免疫组织学和解剖学研究

背景/目的 随着内皮角膜移植术 (EK)、后弹力层 (DM) EK 和前后弹力层 EK 的普及，人们在了解角膜后解剖结构方面做了大量工作。大多数可用信息与中央角膜有关。我们评估了周边角膜，以探索前后弹力层 (PDL)、DM 和小梁网 (TM) 之间的免疫组织学和解剖学关系。方法对六个供体人类巩膜角膜盘进行了研究。通过光学显微镜、透射电子显微镜 (TEM) 和免疫组织学检查 PDL、DM 和 TM。将DM从中心剥离到其周边附着的极限，到达TM和周边角膜之间的过渡区(TZ)。十微米切片用针对胶原蛋白 1、2、3、4、5、6、12、弹性蛋白、肌纤蛋白、wnt-1、水通道蛋白、腱蛋白 C、层粘连蛋白和整合素 α 3 的抗体进行染色。 结果 胶原蛋白 2、3、4 、层粘连蛋白和肌纤蛋白主要见于 TM 和周边角膜之间的 TZ。Wnt-1、整合素α3和生腱蛋白C高度集中在TM中。1 号胶原蛋白主要存在于角膜基质中。在透射电镜上；与中央角膜相比，DM 更薄，周边的整个厚度上分布有更致密的带状结构，中央角膜呈现为独特的前带状层。结论 DM、PDL和TM之间的TZ在外围显示出独特的组织学结构。TM 的胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白纤维与 PDL 连续。这些结构彼此牢固地连接在一起。这些发现提供了与 DMEK 供体组织的制备相关的结构信息。与研究相关的所有数据都包含在文章中或作为补充信息上传。