Electron microscopic observations of Descemet's membrane of peripheral cornea

The posterior portion of the Descemet's membrane was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy; the materials comprised 87 human peripheral corneas with ages from 2 to 98 years, 5 monkey corneas and 4 rabbit corneas. In some specimens, the endothelium was removed by ultrasonication. After removal of the endothelium, "curly structures" were recognized on the surface of the Descemet's membrane, where the membrane showed a gradual thinning. These structures appeared along the whole circumference of the cornea with variable width in the human specimens, but in monkey and rabbit corneas, the extent of these structures was less than in the human cornea. The "curly structures" were not encountered in young subjects, and they increased with age. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.60, P less than 0.001) between the age and the extent of these structures. Other aging products of the Descemet's membrane, ie, Hassall-Henle bodies, were partly surrounded by the "curly structures". The human "curly structures" consisted of collagen fibrils, halo structures in the collagen bundles, wide-spacing fibers, microfibrils, ground substances containing minute filaments and a structure resembling the Descemet's membrane. Components of "curly structures" of the monkey and rabbit were almost the same as those of the human except for the Descemet's membrane-like structure.