Article
Imaging autofluorescent particels within drusen using structured illumination
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Published: | May 30, 2012 |
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Outline
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Background: There are only few studies available reporting of origin, formation and number of autofluorescent particels wtihin drusen. Whether these particels might also play a role in drusen biogenesis is still unclear. Aim of this study was a detailed analysis of autofluorescent particels within drusen using structured illumination, a microscopic method which provides a significant improvement in lateral resolution compard to conventional techniques.
Methods: Eight histological RPE sections of eight donor eyes (Age: 76+/- 4 years) were examined using structured illumination (wavelengths: 488 and 568 nm). Drusen were analyzed regarding shape and size. Autofluorescent particels within drusen were analyzed regarding size, shape, spectral properties, and localization within the drusen.
Results: In the eight sections, a total of 441 drusen were found (90.1% smaller than 63 µm; mean size: 35.65 µm ± 2.38 µm). In 101 drusen (22.9%) 190 autofluorescent particels (1 to 11 particels/druse) were analyzed. Particels revealed same size and spectral properties than lipofuscin granules in RPE cells. Particels were mostly found in the lower 2/3 of the drusen.
Conclusions: With structured illumination more autofluorescent particels within drusen can be detected than with conventionally used fluorescence microscopy. Shape and spectral properties of these particels lead to the assumption that these particels origniate from overlaying RPE cells and contribute to drusen formation.