FIBRONECTIN IN BOVINE VITREOUS - AN IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDY

The vitreous body is a transparent gel essentially composed of hyaluro nan, collagen and proteoglycans. These components are assembled in a t hree-dimensional structure that is maintained by self-aggregation of m acromolecules and the interactions between these different macromolecu les. We confirmed the presence of fibronectin in vitreous body using i mmunochemical methods and by indirect immunofluorescence on cryostat s ections. We also determined its distribution in vitreous extracts as c ompared to those of collagen, proteoglycans and hyaluronan. Because of its high affinity to these macromolecules fibronectin in the vitreous appears to play an important role in strengthening and stabilizing th e gel structure.