Glycosaminoglycans in human trabecular meshwork: age-related changes.

Glycosaminoglycans play a central role in maintaining the normal outflow resistance in the human trabecular meshwork. We evaluated the possible morphological, histochemical and morphometrical age-related changes in glycosaminoglycans of the trabecular meshwork. Small human samples were drawn from 24 eyes after exitus from young and old humans. Samples were harvested from the anterior chamber of the eye, without any aesthetic damage for the face. They were divided into three fragments, each used for morphological, histochemical and ultrastructural staining. Quantitative analysis of images was performed to evaluate morphometrical data that were statistically analysed. Our findings demonstrate the following age-related changes: (1) deposition of fibrous granular material in the trabecular meshwork; (2) increased electron density of the structures; (3) strong decrease in the hyaluronic acid content, and (4) increase in sulphated proteoglycans. Glycosaminoglycans of human trabecular meshwork undergo age-related changes, as demonstrated by our morphological, histochemical and morphometrical results.