A method for preserving and visualizing the three-dimensional structure of the mouse zonule. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bassnett, Steven
• Is Part Of: Experimental eye research. Volume 185(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Periodicals; Œil -- Périodiques; Ophthalmology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.05.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-4835

Abstract

Abstract: Mechanical failure of the ciliary zonule characterizes several ocular and systemic diseases. The mouse has emerged as a useful model system to investigate the composition and structure/function relationships of the zonule. However, visualizing the organization of the diaphanous fibers that comprise the zonule is technically challenging because the fibers do not take up conventional histological stains and are disrupted easily during processing. Here, we describe a simple method for maintaining physiological pressure within the mouse eye during fixation, and a gel-embedding technique for stabilizing the zonular fibers during subsequent tissue processing and imaging steps. This approach facilitates quantitative measurements of fiber number and cross-sectional dimensions and will allow the effects of targeted disruption of zonule components to be assessed systematically.