The extracellular matrix of the human optic nerve
M. H. Goldbaum, S. Y. Jeng, R. Logemann and R. N. Weinreb
Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, Calif.
The nerve fibers of the optic nerve are enclosed and segmented by
extracellular matrix. With immunostains, we localized collagen types I
through VI, laminin, and fibronectin in frozen sections of the
extracellular matrix of the prelaminar, laminar, and retrolaminar human
optic nerve. The internal limiting lamina of the optic nerve has an
extracellular composition similar to the thicker adjacent retinal internal
limiting lamina. We confirmed that the lamina cribrosa contains type IV
collagen and laminin, whereas the sclera does not. The septa of the
retrolaminar optic nerve appear as vascular inward extensions of the pia
mater. The glial tube that lines the optic nerve extends forward from the
retrolaminar optic nerve through the lamina cribrosa to end anteriorly at
the retinal pigment epithelium. It does not separate the optic nerve from
the adjacent sensory retina.
