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Nerve terminals at the human corneoscleral limbus

Al -Aqaba, Mouhamed; Anis, Fady S.; Mohammed, Imran; Dua, Harminder S.

Authors

Mouhamed Al -Aqaba

Fady S. Anis

Imran Mohammed

HARMINDER DUA HARMINDER.DUA@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences



Abstract

Aims: To demonstrate and characterise distinct subepithelial compact nerve endings (CNE) at the human corneoscleral limbus.

Methods: Ten fresh human donor corneoscleral discs (mean age, 67 years) and 26 organ-cultured corneoscleral rims (mean age, 59 years) were studied. All samples were subjected to enzyme histochemical staining related to endogenous acetylcholinesterase present in nerve tissue and H&E staining. Whole-mount en face imaging with NanoZoomer digital pathology microscope and serial cross-section imaging with light microscope were undertaken.

Results: Nerves entering the corneoscleral limbus and peripheral cornea terminate under the epithelium as enlarged multiloculated and multinucleated ovoid structures within a 2 mm zone. They are closely associated with the rete pegs of the limbal palisades and the limbal epithelial crypts, often located within characteristic stromal invaginations of these structures. Their numbers ranged from 70 to 300 per corneoscleral rim. The size ranged from 20 to 100 µm. They had one or more nerve connections and were interconnected to other similar endings and to the limbal nerve plexus.

Conclusion: Human corneoscleral limbus demonstrates a population of nerve terminals resembling CNE with distinct morphological features. They are closely associated with the limbal stem cell niches, suggesting a potential contribution to the niche environment.

Citation

Al -Aqaba, M., Anis, F. S., Mohammed, I., & Dua, H. S. (2017). Nerve terminals at the human corneoscleral limbus. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 102(4), 556-561. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311146

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 25, 2017
Online Publication Date Dec 15, 2017
Publication Date Dec 15, 2017
Deposit Date Jul 11, 2018
Print ISSN 0007-1161
Electronic ISSN 1468-2079
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 102
Issue 4
Pages 556-561
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311146
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1127257
Publisher URL https://bjo.bmj.com/content/102/4/556
PMID 29246889
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