DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SULFATED PROTEOGLYCANS IN THE TRABECULAR TISSUE OF GONIODYSGENETIC GLAUCOMA

We evaluated histochemically the distribution of proteoglycans in the trabecular tissue of goniodysgenetic (developmental) glaucoma. Nine tr abecular tissue specimens obtained at trabeculectomy from seven patien ts with goniodysgenetic glaucoma were stained with either cuprolinic b lue or cupromeronic blue in combination with a series of enzyme and ni trous acid treatments. Within the extracellular matrix of the trabecul ar meshwork, many cupromeronic blue- or cuprolinic blue-positive filam ents were observed in association with collagen fibrils, basal lamina, and basal lamina-like material. The extracellular matrices of elastin -like fibers, fine fibrillar materials, and fine granular materials we re free from any reaction products. The enzyme and nitrous acid treatm ents disclosed that the reaction products associated with collagen fib rils represented both chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate types, while those with basal lamina and basal lamina-like material represent ed heparan sulfate-type proteoglycans. Extensive accumulations of basa l lamina-like material contained a great deal of heparan sulfate-type proteoglycans in the thick subcanalicular tissue of goniodysgenetic gl aucoma. These results indicate that the class and distribution of prot eoglycans in the goniodysgenetic trabecular tissues are virtually the same as that in the normal tissues. However, the large accumulation of basal lamina-like material with heparan sulfate-type proteoglycans ca n be one of the causes of the intraocular pressure increase in goniody sgenetic glaucoma.