Morphological Analysis of Schlemm's Canal in Mice

Methods Mol Biol. 2018:1846:153-160. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8712-2_10.

Abstract

Immunofluorescent confocal microscopy is a powerful tool for analysis of the morphology and development of vascular and lymphatic tissues. Schlemm's canal (SC) is a large, lymphatic-like vessel in the anterior chamber of the eye, which is essential for aqueous humor drainage required to maintain intraocular pressure and is sensitive to defects in blood and lymphatic vascular signaling pathways. Here, we describe a method to stain and quantify SC area and morphology in enucleated mouse eyes, providing a tool for understanding its development and function in small animal genetic or disease models.

Keywords: Confocal microscopy; Immunofluorescence; Immunostaining; Whole mount.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anterior Chamber / anatomy & histology
  • Anterior Chamber / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Lymphatic Vessels / anatomy & histology
  • Lymphatic Vessels / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal* / methods