[Effects of porcine pancreatic elastase-1 on elastin in human trabecular meshwork--immunohistochemical studies:...

The aim of this study was to determine the location of elastin in the pseudoexfoliative material (PSX) in trabecular tissue of pseudoexfoliation (PE) glaucoma and to estimate the influence of porcine pancreatic elastase-1 (PPE) on elastin in PSX. Trabecular tissue obtained from trabeculectomy specimens of PE glaucoma were used. The tissues were embedded in Lowicryl K4M and sectioned for electron microscopy. First, the sections were subjected to protein A-gold immunohistochemical staining to determine the location of elastin in the tissues. Second, the sections were exposed to PPE, before immunostaining, to evaluate the change of immunolocalization of the gold particles in the tissue. The results were as follows. The gold particles indicating the presence of elastin were located in the PSX as well as in elastic fibers. The density of gold particles in PSX was reduced by PPE. These results show that elastin is located in PSX in trabecular tissue of PE glaucoma, and that PPE dissolves the elastin in PSX.