Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Mast cells in human optic nerve

L A Levin¹, D M Albert, D Johnson

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

|October 1, 1993

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Measurement of serum acetylsalicylic acid in a porcine model of aspirin overdose.

Veterinary and human toxicology·1996

Same author

Augmentation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by N(G)-L-methyl-arginine in a rabbit model of thermal injury.

The American journal of emergency medicine·1996

Same author

Counseling to reduce road injuries and deaths.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·1996

Same author

Pacemaker patient-triggered event recording: accuracy, utility, and cost for the pacemaker follow-up clinic.

Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE·1996

Same author

Acute lung injury fibroblast migration and invasion of a fibrin matrix is mediated by CD44.

The Journal of clinical investigation·1996

Same author

Unusual features of osteoarticular tuberculosis in children.

The Journal of pediatrics·1996

Same journal

Impact of Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits on Ellipsoid Zone-Related Thickness Metrics.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2026

Same journal

Proteomic Profiling of Optic Nerves From SMOX-Deficient Mice Identifies Regulators of Neuroinflammation and Axonal Damage in Optic Neuritis.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2026

Same journal

Aflibercept and Faricimab Equipotently Restore Endothelial Barrier Function.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2026

Same journal

Spatial Decomposition of Longitudinal RNFL Maps Reveals Distinct Modes of Glaucomatous Progression With Structure-Function and Genetic Signatures.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2026

Same journal

The CXXC1-IGFBP6 Axis Maintains Corneal Epithelial Differentiation via H3K4me3-Dependent Transcriptional Activation.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2026

Same journal

Archetypal Visual Field Analysis of Patients With Chronic Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy in Relation to Visual Recovery.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2026

See all related articles

Mast cells are present in the meninges of most optic nerves. Their presence in the optic nerve parenchyma may indicate severe abnormality, suggesting a role in ocular inflammatory conditions.

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Neuroscience
Immunology

Background:

Mast cells are typically found in ocular tissues like the conjunctiva, choroid, and iris.
Their distribution within the optic nerve and its surrounding meninges is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the distribution of mast cells in the human optic nerve and its meninges.
To compare mast cell presence in normal versus diseased optic nerve samples.

Main Methods:

Examined 66 human optic nerves from various sources (autopsy, fetal, enucleation specimens).
Identified mast cells using chloroacetate esterase staining and confirmed with toluidine blue.
Quantified mast cell densities in meningeal and parenchymal locations.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

Mast cells were frequently found in the optic nerve meninges, particularly around blood vessels.
Higher mast cell densities were observed in nerves associated with inflammatory or vascular disorders.
Mast cells were present in the optic nerve parenchyma in a few cases of severe abnormality, often with neovascularization.
Degranulation was more common in cases of recent severe trauma.

Conclusions:

Mast cells are a common component of the optic nerve meninges.
Their presence and degranulation may be linked to ocular inflammatory and traumatic conditions.
A potential role for optic nerve mast cells in certain autoimmune ocular diseases is hypothesized.