Conjunctival impression cytology

A new technique is presented using impression of the conjunctiva with a plastic device to study the conjunctival response in various conjunctival disease states. When used with a rapid acting stain the impression technique proved to be accurate, reproducible, and nondestructive when compared to the standard spatula scraping of the conjunctiva using Giemsa stain.

Cytology of normal and inflamed conjunctivas in dogs and cats

Conjunctival scrapings from normal dogs and cats were compared with conjunctival scrapings from dogs and cats with conjunctivitis. Normal scrapings usually contained sheets of epithelial cells and small numbers of bacteria. Goblet cells were not seen unless the scraping was made from the fornix. In the absence of other signs of ocular disease, an occasional leukocyte was considered normal. The changes in scrapings from inflamed conjunctivas included increased numbers of degenerating epithelial cells, fibrin, inflammatory cells, bacteria, and inclusion bodies.

Cytologic diagnosis of adenoviral epidemic keratoconjunctivitis by direct immunofluorescence

A direct immunofluorescence technique for the diagnosis of acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis and pharyngoconjunctivitis was found to be a reliable, sensitive, and specific technique for the detection of soluble adenoviral antigens in epithelial cells on conjunctival scrapings of patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Of 25 patients with clinical findings consistent with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis or pharyngoconjunctival fever, all had positive diagnostic scrapings by direct immunofluorescence.

Plasma cell content of main and accessory lacrimal glands and conjunctiva

The size, weight, and plasma cell content of main and accessory lacrimal glands were examined and compared to the number of plasma cells in the conjunctiva. There were from four to 35 accessory lacrimal glands in the upper conjunctiva and a rare accessory gland in the lower conjunctiva. The total accessory gland mass was approximately one tenth of the lacrimal gland mass although the number of plasma cells was approximately 1/20 of the mass. The number of plasma-cells in the lacrimal gland was estimated to be 3,200,000; in the conjunctiva, 2,100,000; and for the accessory glands, 180,000. Because of the many plasma cells in the relatively inaccessible lacrimal gland, cells of the lymphatic series may home to the lacrimal gland by non-antigenic mechanisms.

Congo red vital staining of cornea and conjunctiva

Vital staining with an aqueous solution of 1% Congo red has been studied in the slit lamp. In 98 cases the dye was mixed with 1% lissamine green, in 120 eyes subsequent staining was performed with 0.125% fluorescein, and in 80 cases the mucous thread from the inferior conjunctival fornix was microscoped. Congo red stains dead cells, degenerate cells, and mucus. The dye discloses keratitis, corneal erosion, contact lens damages, corrosions, etc. It stains like lissamine green and rose bengal, though less frequently and less intensely than these. Congo red is a pH indicator. Acid reaction beyond its pH-range (3.0-5.2) has not been demonstrated. Amyloid-specific colour reaction (red-green dichromatic polarisation) has been noticed in mucous fibrils, most often in relation to infectious conjunctivitis and corrosion, never in normal eyes. The phenomenon is believed to indicate degeneration of the mucous fibrils (on the analogy of toluidine-blue-stained mucus), whereas not presence of genuine amyloid. It is, in other words, an important phenomenon in the differential diagnosis. Congo red is hardly indicated in ordinary clinical practice for vital staining of cornea and conjunctiva. Fluorescein, combined with rose bengal or lissamin green should be preferred.

Conjunctival goblet cell density in normal subjects and in dry eye syndromes

Serial sections prepared from biopsies of the deep tarsal portion of the inferior nasal conjunctival fornix in normal subjects and in patients with various dry eye syndromes were analyzed with respect to the goblet cell densities. When compared to normal subjects, individuals with keratitis sicca, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular pemphigoid, and acute alkali burn all demonstrated progressively lower goblet cell densities per millimeter of epithelial surface. These disease entities can, therefore, be considered goblet cell-deficient syndromes.

Subconjunctival and episcleral lipid globules

Asymptomatic peripheral subconjunctival and episcleral clear, round globules, 30 to 50 mu in diameter, were found in more than 50% of patients over 50 years of age. This entity occurred in two basic patterns, adjacent to deep conjunctival or episcleral blood vessels or less commonly in isolated patches. These globules increased linearly with age, were more common in women and blacks, with a peak incidence in blacks during the fourth, and in whites, the sixth decade. Histologically, the globules were connective tissue fat cells identical to those found in orbital fat. This entity is not related to obesity, but has a clear relationship to increasing age. The clinical importance of these cells is unknown.

Preparation from human serum of an alpha-one protein which induces the immediate growth of unadapted cells in vitro

An alpha-one protein is separated from human serum on a microbead column. This nondialyzable protein induces the immediate growth of unadapted cells placed in chemically defined Medium A2 + APG. HeLa, conjunctiva and human heart cells, which stop growing if the protein is removed, continue to grow only if the protein is returned or the cells are permitted to adapt to the defined medium. A 90-120 day period is required for adaptation. The spreading and growth of fully adapted cells is also stimulated by the addition of the protein. As little as 0.4 microg per ml of medium is effective. The protein analyzed by paper, starch, and discontinuous acrylamide gel electrophoresis appears to be a single component. The protein is periodate-Schiff positive and readily binds small molecules which are removed, without loss of biological activity, by precipitating the protein in 50% saturated ammonium sulfate. The protein is adsorbed on the microbead column as a complex with the beta lipoprotein fraction of human serum; it cannot be separated from bovine or equinesera by this method; and it is not identical with fetuin. Its biological response is not duplicated by insulin, carbamyl phosphate, putrescine, or linoleic acid.

Microtubules in the microspikes and cortical cytoplasm of isolated cells

In thin sections through microspikes extending from the surface of isolated cells, a core has been seen which may contain microtubular elements. The differences between these and microtubules seen elsewhere in the cytoplasm are attributed to their rapid growth and exposed location which make them especially vulnerable to injury by preparative treatment. In support of this view it is shown that cytoplasmic microtubules may be altered or even destroyed by exposing the cells to changes in osmotic pressure. Associated with these straight microtubules in the cytoplasm were also found solid microfilaments. The form of these components and their location and alignment in portions of cells which are under tension or in motion suggest that they function in the structural support of the cell and its microspikes and in the transmission of tension in the cytoplasm. A second type of microtubule, smaller in diameter and tortuous in form, was also seen in certain cells and is presumed, from its shape, to have little to do with cytoplasmic support.