Scanning Electron Microscopic Findings of Human Bruch's Membrane.

Ha, Tae Sung; Choi, Gwang Ju; Na, Kyoung Soo

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2000;41(9):1853-1857.
Published online September 1, 2000.

Scanning Electron Microscopic Findings of Human Bruch's Membrane.

Tae Sung Ha, Gwang Ju Choi, Kyoung Soo Na

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Armed Forces Capital General Hospital, Sungnam, Korea.
²Department of Ophthalmology, The Chosun University Medical College, #588 Seonam-dong, Dong-ku, Kwang-ju, 501-140, Korea.

브루크막의 층별 주사전자현미경적 소견

하태성(Tae Sung Ha),최광주(Gwang Ju Choi),나경수(Kyoung Soo Na)

Abstract

Anatomical examinations on Bruch's membrane have almost been by light microscopy or transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy allowed us to evaluate surface features topographically. Each layer of Bruch's membrane was exposed sequentially to mechanical or enzymatic treatment of the retinal pigment epithelium choroid complex from human cadavar eye. The authors examined the surface features of the membrane by dry-cracking scanning electron microscopy. The basement membrane of retinal pigment epithelium appeared like a smooth thin plastic membrane which was framed by collagen fibers. The inner collagenous layer was composed of many collagen fiber bundles which were placed in order and the ground substance between them was not visible. Elastic layer of Burch's membrane appeared to be coarse and fine fibers matted together by some amorphous substance. This layer had many openings on its solid sheet and the outer collagenous zone was visible though these openings.

Key Words: Bruch's menbrane;Collagenous layer;Elastic layer;Scanning electron microscopy