A Study of the Fibrous Components of the Vitreous Body of the Electron Microscope.

Abstract

Electron micrographs have been obtained of a fibrous fraction separated from fragmented fresh vitreous humor of cattle eyes by high-speed centrifugation, which reveal the presence of 3 morphologically distinct fibril types. The least numerous species is represented by a fibril 500-800 in width having an axial periodicity of about 640 A and intraperiod structure characteristic of collagen. A 2d fibrous component measuring 150-200 A in width, is characterized by a repeating axial period averaging about 610 A. A 3d and most abundant element is a fibril averaging 250 A in width exhibiting only a suggestion of a very fine axial repeating period.