[Depiction of the structure of the vitreous body in horses without ocular diseases and in horses with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) using transmission electron microscopy]

Abstract

Neither the ultrastructure of the vitreous body from horses without ocular diseases, nor the pathomorphological changes in the vitreous body associated with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) have been described. However, the vitreous body plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ERU. Ten vitreous body samples obtained from 5 horses without ocular disease, and 38 vitreous body samples from horses with ERU (collected during vitrectomy) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The vitreous body samples of horses without ocular diseases were characterized by a loose network of unbranched fibrils 10-12 nm in width. In the vitreous body samples of horses with ERU numerous dense bundles of fibrils, mononuclear inflammatory cells and necrotic cells represent the destruction of the vitreous fibrillar network. In this study, equine vitreous body ultrastructure was described for the first time. Thus, demonstrating ultramorphologically, the clinically apparent changes of the vitreous body associated with ERU.