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Schwalbe line's cell in the normal and glaucomatous dog
D Samuelson1, C Plummer, P Lewis
1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. SamuelsonD@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Veterinary Ophthalmology
|June 9, 2001
Summary
Canine Schwalbe line (SL) cells in the iridocorneal angle change with age and glaucoma. These distinct cells alter their morphology and decrease in number as primary open-angle glaucoma progresses in Beagles.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The canine iridocorneal angle features an operculum, a peripheral corneal extension overlying the corneoscleral trabecular meshwork.
- This region contains Schwalbe line (SL) cells, known for secretory and epithelial characteristics.
- These SL cells are altered early in spontaneous glaucoma in Beagles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Schwalbe line (SL) cell in dogs for the first time.
- To investigate changes in SL cells associated with canine primary open-angle glaucoma.
Main Methods:
- Light and ultrastructural microscopy of iridocorneal angles from glaucomatous and normal Beagles.
- Evaluation of opercular, corneoscleral, and uveal regions at 1000x magnification.
- Counting trabecular cell nuclei to assess cell populations.
Main Results:
- Canine SL cells retain epithelial morphology in normal and early glaucomatous dogs.
- SL cells lose epithelial and secretory characteristics in moderate to advanced glaucoma.
- Normal SL cell numbers decline by one-third in the first year, with gradual loss thereafter.
- Glaucoma group SL cell decline is more substantial and continuous through the first three years.
Conclusions:
- The SL cell is a distinct cell type in the canine iridocorneal angle, associated with the nonfiltering corneoscleral trabecular meshwork.
- SL cell changes correlate with age and disease progression in canine primary open-angle glaucoma.