T. Daimon et al., IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF THROMBOMODULIN IN THE AQUEOUS-HUMOR PASSAGE OF THE RAT EYE, HISTOCHEM C, 108(2), 1997, pp. 121-131
This report describes the distribution and localization of thrombomodu
lin (TM) in the rat eye by light and electron microscopic immunocytoch
emistry. In addition to the endothelium of the entire vasculature, TM
was found on the non-vascular structures lining the cavities of the po
sterior and anterior chambers and the limbus, TM was localized on the
basal, lateral, and apical plasma membranes of the inner and outer cil
iary epithelium, and the posterior iris epithelium in which there was
no polarized expression of TM, In the anterior chamber, TM was localiz
ed on the luminal surface of the corneal endothelium, but was negative
on the anterior border layer of the iris, which is composed of a disc
ontinuous layer of fibroblasts and collagen fibers. Thus, TM was prese
nt at sites of cell-to-cell contact. TM was also present on the endoth
elia of the trabecular meshwork and the Schlemm's canal in the limbus.
TM was localized not only on the luminal plasma membrane, but also on
the cytoplasmic giant vacuoles in the endothelial cells of the Schlem
m's canal. These findings extend the importance of anticoagulant mecha
nisms to the systems of secretion, circulation, and drainage of the aq
ueous humor.