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On the origin of ‘guttae’
  1. Hyeck-Soo Son1,
  2. Guadalupe Villarreal Jr.2,
  3. Huan Meng2,
  4. Charles G Eberhart2,
  5. Albert S Jun2
  1. 1 University of Heidelberg School of Medicine, Heidelberg, BW Germany
  2. 2 Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Albert S Jun, Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Smith Building 5011, 400 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA; aljun{at}jhmi.edu

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-305069

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    Introduction

    The initial description of Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in 19101 was made without a slit-lamp biomicroscope and, thus, did not include ‘drop-like’ excrescences beneath the endothelium observed by Vogt in 1921 who is credited with coining the term ‘guttae’ (Latin for drops).2 The origin of gutta has remained obscure. Possible explanations could be that they arise as cellular secretions3 or as extrusions from weak areas in Descemet membrane (DM).4

    Limited reports describe morphologies of guttae in FECD. Laing et al described five stages distinguished by size, abnormalities of cells, coalescence of multiple guttae, and contour. They observed several stages in the same cornea.3 Gottsch et al suggest distinct guttae morphologies arise from specific genetic causes of FECD.4

    Our studies of a transgenic mouse model of early onset FECD5 suggest novel insights into the origin of guttae.

    Methods

    Transgenic mice harbouring the Q455 K mutation in the α 2 collagen VIII gene, confocal microscopy, periodic acid Schiff staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were described previously.5

    Results

    Confocal microscopy of a homozygous Q455 K mouse shows endothelial polymegathism and pleomorphism (figure 1A). Laing et al’s stage 1 and stage 2 guttae are present. Also seen is a distinct, sharply raised gutta occurring at a cell border, a morphology ascribed by …

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    Footnotes

    • Correction notice This article has been corrected since it was published Online First. The word ‘gutta’ has been amended to ‘guttae’ in the article title.

    • Funding Grants from the National Institutes of Health (EY019874), J Willard and Alice S Marriott Foundation, Edward Colburn, Lorraine Collins, Richard Dianich, Mary Finegan, Barbara and Peter Freeman, Stanley Friedler, MD, Herbert Kasoff, Diane Kemker, Jean Mattison, Lee Silverman, Norman Tunkel, PhD (all to ASJ), and Research to Prevent Blindness (to Wilmer Eye Institute).

    • Competing interests None.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data sharing statement All data are available upon request from the corresponding author.