The Distribution of the Extraocular Pulley Smooth Muscle in the Rabbit.

Kim, Jong Myong; Kim, Eon Jeong; Yoo, Ji Myong

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2007;48(1):142-149.
Published online January 31, 2007.

The Distribution of the Extraocular Pulley Smooth Muscle in the Rabbit.

Jong Myong Kim, Eon Jeong Kim, Ji Myong Yoo

Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. YJM@nongae.gsnu.ac.kr

가토 외안근 풀리 평활근의 분포

김종명,김언정,유지명

Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea

Correspondence: Jong Myong Kim, M.D.

Abstract

PURPOSE
We evaluated the structure, innervation of the extraocular pulley smooth muscle in the rabbit. METHODS: A rabbit was transcardially perfused with physiological saline followed by 4% formalin. The rabbit orbit was dissected en bloc, paraffin processed, and serially sectioned for Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome stain. The distribution of the extraocular pulley smooth muscle was confirmed by immunohistochemistry with human smooth muscle(SM) alpha-actin. RESULTS: We found that the pulley structure consisted of focal condensations of eleastin and collagenous connective tissue in relationship to the rectus muscle in the equatorial Tenon's fascia. The pulley smooth muscle in relation to medial rectus muscle was immunostained with TH and nNOS. CONCLUSIONS: The data support the presence of the extraocular pulley smooth muscle in the rabbit orbit having both parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation.

Key Words: Pulley smooth muscle