June 2023
Volume 64, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2023
Novel characterization of a lymphatic bridge between Schlemm’s canal and limbal and conjunctival lymphatic pathway
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Yujia Yang
    University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
  • Meng Shi
    University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
  • Guangyu Li
    University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
  • Lu Chen
    University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Yujia Yang None; Meng Shi None; Guangyu Li None; Lu Chen None
  • Footnotes
    Support  This work is supported in part by research grants from NIH and University of California at Berkeley (LC).
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2023, Vol.64, 3485. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Yujia Yang, Meng Shi, Guangyu Li, Lu Chen; Novel characterization of a lymphatic bridge between Schlemm’s canal and limbal and conjunctival lymphatic pathway. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2023;64(8):3485.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : Schlemm’s canal is a critical structure of the aqueous humor outflow pathway. It is also a therapeutic target for intraocular hypertension and glaucoma. We herein report a newly identified structure, termed lymphatic bridge, that directly connects the Schlemm’s canal to the limbal and conjunctival lymphatic pathway. Further investigation on this newly identified pathway may offer novel mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for glaucoma.

Methods : Intact eyeballs were harvested from Prox-1-GFP (green fluorescent protein) mice (Kang, et al. Sci. Rep. 2016) and processed by a tissue clearing technique with CLARITY (Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridized Rigid Imaging/Immunostaining/In situ hybridization-compatible Tissue-hYdrogel). Samples were immunolabeled with CD31 and LYVE-1 (Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1) specific antibodies and imaged by light sheet fluorescent microscopy (LSFM). The limbal areas were examined to locate connecting channels between the Schlemm’s canal and limbal lymphatics. Additionally, in vivo anterior chamber dye injection with Texas Red dextran was performed for functional analysis.

Results : Novel Prox-1+LYVE-1+ lymphatic bridge vessels were discovered between the Schlemm’s canal and limbal lymphatic vessels that connect with the conjunctival lymphatic pathway. The anterior chamber dye injection also confirmed the outflow of aqueous humor into the conjunctival lymphatic vessels.

Conclusions : This study provides the first evidence of the direct connection between Schlemm’s canal and limbal and conjunctival lymphatic vessels. This pathway is distinctive from the conventional episcleral vein pathway, which warrants further investigation.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×