Histoautoradiographic and electron microscopic studies on short-term explant cultures of the glaucomatous trabecular meshwork.

Explant cultures of 15 trabeculectomy specimens derived from glaucomatous eyes were studied, using electron microscopy and histoautoradiography. The morphology of the trabecular meshwork was monitored for 3-14 days after explanation. In 4 cases the trabeculectomy specimens were cut in 2-3 pieces each and then incubated with 14C-glucosamine at different times during the observation period (2-10 days). The cells of the cribriform layer and the outer corneoscleral trabeculae become "activated" as soon as 3-4 days after explantation, developing a large amount of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi material, and numerous mitochondria. Histoautoradiographically, intense labeling of the trabecular meshwork, especially the cribriform layer, was found after incubation with 14C-glucosamine. We assume that under tissue culture conditions the "activated" cells of the glaucomatous meshwork produce various types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) but, based on the experiments alone, no final conclusions can be made in this respect.