[Clinical, electron-microscopic, and histochemical investigations of conjunctivitis lignosa (author's transl)]. 1975

E Lütjen-Drecoll, and K Sames, and W Straub, and K P Krug

A case is briefly described in which a typical conjunctivitis lignosa appeared after the eye had suffered lime burns. In order to help clarify the morphological connection between mucopolysaccharide production and fiber development in the tumor tissue which occurred after the burn, samples were examined histologically, histochemically and with the use of the electron microscope. The tumor had a cartilage like consistency. Its structure could be devided into three regions. Region A is the pseudo-membrane. It has root like extensions which anchor it to the underlying tissue, and which morphologically appear partially homogeneous and partially fibrous. Blood cells and cell remnants are included in the tissue of the pseudomembrane. The histochemical examination of the pseudomembrane did not present a uniform picture. Along with small amounts of dermatan-sulfate and chondroitin-sulfate B the membrane probably contained a rather large amount of hyaluronic acid. The pseudomembrane borders on a granular tissue (Region B) which is distinguished by the wide metachromatic sheathes of the blood vessels found in it and the particularly large number of active fibroblasts along its edges. The silver impregnation method and the electron-microscopic examination showed that the vascular sheathes consist of bundles of reticular fibers which constitute a three-dimensional network. A similar sort of sheath was observed around the fibroblasts. Chondroitin-sulfate makes up the largest fraction of the mucopoly-saccharides near the fibers and appears particularly concentrated at the intersections of the fibers, although it is also diffusely distributed as well. Dermatan-sulfate (or heparan-sulfate) is found only in the mucopolysaccharide sheath of the fibers themselves. The deep region of the tumor (Region C) consists almost exclusively of blood vessels, their sprouts and the fibroblasts which, with their wide fibrous sheathes, almost fill the spaces between the blood vessels. The reticular fibers and their mucopolysaccharide sheathes have the same structure as that observed in Region B, The fact that the mucopolysaccharides did not appear in plaques but rather as bound primarily to the fibers is grounds for suggesting that a fiber development disorder, probably stemming from the pericytes and fibroblasts rich in ergastoplasm and fibrilles, could play the principle role in conjunctivitis lignosa. The cartilagen like consistency of the tumor could be a result of the arrangement of the fibers and their mucopolysaccharide sheathes. Brief remarks are included concerning the therapeutic consequences of the study.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008566 Membranes Thin layers of tissue which cover parts of the body, separate adjacent cavities, or connect adjacent structures. Membrane Tissue,Membrane,Membrane Tissues,Tissue, Membrane,Tissues, Membrane
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002057 Burns, Chemical Burns caused by contact with or exposure to CAUSTICS or strong ACIDS. Chemical Burns,Burn, Chemical,Chemical Burn
D002807 Chondroitin A mucopolysaccharide constituent of chondrin. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
D003228 Conjunctiva The mucous membrane that covers the posterior surface of the eyelids and the anterior pericorneal surface of the eyeball. Bulbar Conjunctiva,Palpebral Conjunctiva,Plica Semilunaris of Conjunctiva,Plicae Semilunares of Conjunctiva,Tunica Conjunctiva,Conjunctiva, Bulbar,Conjunctiva, Palpebral,Conjunctivas
D003231 Conjunctivitis INFLAMMATION of the CONJUNCTIVA. Pink Eye,Conjunctivitides,Pink Eyes
D004721 Endoplasmic Reticulum A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D005126 Eye Burns Injury to any part of the eye by extreme heat, chemical agents, or ultraviolet radiation. Burn, Eye,Burns, Eye,Eye Burn

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