Tao Shen1, Jing Lin1, Xiuling Li1, Daming Deng2. 1. State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China. 2. State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China. damingdeng@gmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Distribution of intermediate filament (IF) proteins in normal extraocular muscles (EOMs) showed that the EOMs differ significantly from the other muscles in the body with respect to their IFs composition, including desmin and nestin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathological changes in the medial rectus (MR) in patients with concomitant exotropia (XT). METHODS: Forty-six MR muscle samples from 46 patients with XT were analyzed pathologically and processed for immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies against desmin and nestin. RESULTS: Although most of MR muscles remained normal structures relatively, they presented high expression of desmin, and in contrast, nestin was absent in a large proportion of the MR muscles. CONCLUSION: Desmin, which is downregulated in normal EOMs, had high expression in MR muscles of patients with XT. Nestin, which is present in a high proportion of normal EOMs, was downregulated in MR muscles of patients with XT.
PURPOSE: Distribution of intermediate filament (IF) proteins in normal extraocular muscles (EOMs) showed that the EOMs differ significantly from the other muscles in the body with respect to their IFs composition, including desmin and nestin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathological changes in the medial rectus (MR) in patients with concomitant exotropia (XT). METHODS: Forty-six MR muscle samples from 46 patients with XT were analyzed pathologically and processed for immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies against desmin and nestin. RESULTS: Although most of MR muscles remained normal structures relatively, they presented high expression of desmin, and in contrast, nestin was absent in a large proportion of the MR muscles. CONCLUSION:Desmin, which is downregulated in normal EOMs, had high expression in MR muscles of patients with XT. Nestin, which is present in a high proportion of normal EOMs, was downregulated in MR muscles of patients with XT.