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Nerve structures in human central corneal epithelium

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Abstract

Eight corneal buttons obtained after enucleations and keratoplasties were impregnated with gold chloride. In epithelial flat preparations dissected from the stroma, the topography of epithelial nerves was examined by light microscopy. Four main structures constituted the innervation of human central corneal epithelium: (1) Bowman's membrane penetrating stromal nerves; (2) basal epithelial nerve plexus; (3) dendritic cells that are interspersed among the basal plexus and possibly connected with nerve fibres; (4) nerve terminals, originating from the basal plexus and dividing dichotomously in the superficial cell layers.

Zusammenfassung

8 Hornhauttrepanate, erhalten nach Enukleationen und Keratoplastiken wurden mit Goldchlorid imprägniert. Die Topographie der epithelialen Nerven konnte lichtmikroskopisch in Epithelflachpräparaten, die vom Stroma disseziert waren, untersucht werden. Vier Hauptstrukturen konstituierten die Innervation des zentralen Epithels der Kornea: 1. Stromanerven, die die Bowman'sche Membran penetrieren. 2. Basaler Nervplexus. 3. Dendritische Zellen, die im basalen Plexus auftreten und möglicherweise mit Nervenfasern in Verbindung stehen. 4. Freie Nervenendigungen, die ihren Ursprung im basalen Plexus haben und sich in den oberflächlichen Zellschichten dichotom teilen.

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Schimmelpfennig, B. Nerve structures in human central corneal epithelium. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 218, 14–20 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02134093

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