Advanced glycation end products in human optic nerve head
- Shiro Amano1001,
- Yuichi Kaji1001,
- Tetsuro Oshika1001,
- Teruaki Oka1002,
- Rikuo Machinami1002,
- Ryoji Nagai1003 and
- Seiko Horiuchi1003
- 1001Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, 1002Department of Pathology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, 1003Department of Biochemistry, University of Kumamoto School of Medicine, Kumamoto, Japan
- Shiro Amano, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113–8655 Japanamanos-tky{at}umin.ac.jp
- Accepted 23 May 2000
Abstract
AIMS To localise advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in human optic nerve head.
METHODS Optic nerve samples from 13 elderly individuals (seven diabetics and six non-diabetics) were obtained at necropsy. Pyrraline, an advanced glycation end product, was immunohistochemically localised in the optic nerve heads.
RESULTS In the diabetic subjects, moderate to intense immunoreactivity for pyrraline was detected in sclera, pia mater, cribriform plates, connective tissues in the optic nerve, and around vessels in the optic nerve and pia mater. Immunoreactivity for pyrraline was also detected around retinal vessels. In the non-diabetic subjects, slight or no immunoreactivity for pyrraline was found in cribriform plates and around the optic nerve vessels.
CONCLUSION Accumulation of AGEs in cribriform plates and around vessels in the optic nerve may contribute to the development of optic neuropathy in diabetic patients.








