Age-related Histological Changes of Human Lacrimal Gland in Koreans.

Nam, Ki Ryong; Jung, Ji Yong

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2002;43(11):2246-2252.
Published online November 1, 2002.

Age-related Histological Changes of Human Lacrimal Gland in Koreans.

Ki Ryong Nam, Ji Yong Jung

Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital, Korea. krnamoph@schch.co.kr

한국인의 연령에 따른 누선의 조직학적 변화

남기룡 ( Ki Ryong Nam ) , 정지용 ( Ji Yong Jung )

Abstract

PURPOSE
We examined histologic changes of 20 samples of the lacrimal gland of Koreans which were taken from 10 cadavers. METHODS: We took 20 samples of lacrimal gland from those of 4 men and 6 women and then fixed with 4% formaldehyde. We examined histologic changes of the sections under a light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin stain. RESULTS: In histologic examinations of tissue from 20 lacrimal glands, acini of abnormal lacrimal gland which were seen in the aged showed diffuse acinar atrophy, periductial fibrosis, periacinar fibrosis, and periductal chronic inflammatory cell infiltration which is composed of columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells. Abnormal lacrimal finding was relatively more diffuse with aging but fatty infiltration was present relatively irrespective of age. CONCLUSIONS: In histologic examination of tissues from cadavers, histologic changes of abnormal lacrimal gland with aging in Koreans were acinar atrophy, diffuse periacinar fibrosis, periductal fibrosis, interlobular ductal proliferation, and periductal chronic inflamm- atory cell infiltration.

Key Words: Acinar atrophy;Ductal proliferation;Lacrimal gland;Histologic change;Periductal fibrosis