Abstract
Purpose :
Obtaining histological sections of globes with AMD, diabetes and glaucoma is difficult because eyes available through hospital pathology units typically represent end stage disease, and autopsy globes have significant autolysis. We sought to create an archive of histological material for the vision researchers. To illustrate the usefulness of the collection, a characterization of the pathology of the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM).
Methods :
Globes were obtained from various eye banks for Donors with diabetes, AMD, glaucoma and normal controls. Clinical history was correlated with detailed gross and histopathological study and serial sections prepared through the fovea. Immunohistochemistry compared the distribution of IRBP and peanut agglutinin binding matrix domains, with that of the choroidal proteins albumin, and BIGH3. Globes were retrieved from 32 donors (30 to 98 yrs) with diabetes, AMD, glaucoma, and controls. The interval between death and placement of the eye in formalin was under 10.5 hrs except in one control. Cases: Diabetes (2 no apparent diabetic retinopathy, 4 non-proliferative, 2 proliferative); AMD (5 dry, 2 wet); glaucoma (11 cases), and normal controls (6 cases). Nine had more than one diagnosis.
Results :
Except when the postmortem interval was beyond 12 hrs, IRBP was restricted to the IPM; albumin and BIGH3 to the choroid. In diabetes, IRBP was reduced in the IPM, and albumin was often present. No redistribution was seen in glaucoma. Dry AMD was associated with entry of IRBP between the RPE and Bruch’s membrane; In wet AMD there was reduced expression of IRBP in the IPM and appearance of IRBP in the choroid and BIGH3 in the disciform scar.
Conclusions :
An archive of the various stages of AMD, glaucoma and diabetes was established. Careful correlation of clinical history with gross and histopathological findings was critical to accurately characterizing the disease type and stage. Often inaccurate clinical history had to be corrected with the the pathology results. Furthermore, conditions not recognized clinically were often uncovered. Our data suggests that changes in the IPM may be relevant to the pathophysiology of diabetes and AMD. The histopathology archive, which is available to Vision Researchers, will be useful to study the expression and distribution of new markers in these difficult to obtain ocular specimens.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.