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Vitreous asteroid bodies. Ultrastructural characteristics and composition
Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|June 1, 1982
Summary
Asteroid hyalosis involves complex lipid and calcium deposits in the human vitreous. These structures, rich in phospholipids and calcium phosphate, may originate from outside the vitreous.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Asteroid hyalosis is an idiopathic vitreous degeneration.
- Characterized by the presence of asteroid bodies in the vitreous humor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructure and elemental composition of asteroid bodies in human vitreous.
- To elucidate the origin and composition of these vitreous opacities.
Main Methods:
- Ultrastructural analysis using electron microscopy.
- Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) for elemental composition.
- Electron diffraction for crystallographic analysis.
Main Results:
- Asteroid bodies consist of complex lipids, primarily phospholipids, arranged in multilaminar membranes.
- Calcium and phosphorus are the predominant elements detected.
- Calcium hydroxyapatite and other calcium phosphate crystals are identified within the bodies.
- Lipid deposition suggests a progressive formation process.
Conclusions:
- Asteroid bodies are composed of complex lipids and calcium phosphate crystals.
- The composition suggests an exogenous origin for these vitreous deposits.
- Understanding the composition may offer insights into vitreous degeneration.