[Preliminary study of vascular mimicry in pterygium]

To investigate the role of vascular mimicry in the development of the pterygium.

Two hundred and eighteen pterygium specimens were collected from pterygium operations, 97 of them were studied under the light microscope by immunohistochemistry and immunohistochemistry combined with PAS stain (primary antibodies included CD34, laminin and VEGF). Specimens were incubated with primary antibodies at 37 degrees C for 60 mins, followed by incubation with secondary antibodies at 37 degrees C for 30 mins, stained by DAB, oxidized by 0.5% periodic acid for 10 mins, stained by Schiff staining for 20 mins, counterstained by Mayer-Hematoxylin staining for 3 mins, washed with water and then mounted.

Vascular mimicry was identified in 97 of 218 pterygium specimens, which appeared as tubular type and network matrix type. The septa of meshwork stained positively with PAS stain. CD34 immunohistochemical staining combined with PAS staining showed that the arcs and cells in the meshwork were stained positively with CD34 and were encircled by PAS positive extracellular matrix. Laminin immunohistochemical staining combined with PAS staining showed that part of endothelial cells and blood vessel walls were stained positively by laminin, but most cells in the tubular-like region were stained negatively. VEGF immunohistochemical staining combined with PAS staining showed that fibroblast-like cells in the network matrix were stained positively by VEGF and the septa of meshwork and extracellular matrices were stained positively by PAS.

Vascular mimicry exists in the pterygium and is one of the blood supply pathways of the pterygium.