Light and Electron Microscopy of the Presumed Elastic Components of the Trabeculae and Scleral Spur of the Human Eye.

The trabecular meshwork and scleral spur of two young human eyes were studied by light and electron microscopy in Epon-embedded material. Anteroposterior sections showed, in light microscopy, numerous dots stained dark purple with Weigert's elastic stain and greenish with Giemsa in both regions. In tilted frontal sections, similarly stained, long, circularly oriented fibers toere observed, indicating that they were longitudinal sections of the dots observed in the anteroposterior section. This material appears to be the saine lohich has been described as elastic tissues when observed by conventional methods. With alternate thin and thick sections, the fine structure of the above material is described. It consists basically of a peripheral cortex and a central core. The distribution of these structures in the trabecular meshwork and scleral spur is described, and their nature discussed, and compared with elastic tissues of the aorta of the guinea pig.