Overexpression of HTRA1 Leads to Ultrastructural Changes in the Elastic Layer of Bruch's Membrane via Cleavage of Extracellular Matrix Components
Figure 3
Transmission electron micrographs of BM.
TEM images showing the elastic lamina of BM in WT (A, C, E, G) and Htra1 transgenic (B, D, F, H) mice (A–D at the age of 3 month; E–H at the age of 12 month). A, B and E, F at original 3000× magnification and C, D and G, H at original 20000× magnification. Note the fragmentation of the elastic lamina in Htra1 transgenic mice seen as discontinuities in contrast to the continuous elastic lamina of the WT mice. These discontinuities were observed in all transgenic mice that were analyzed (1mice/group, 6 independent experiments). Image is representative. BM, Bruch's membrane; Lv, Lumen vasculare (Lumen of a vessel); Mi, Mitochondria; Pc, Processus cellularis (cell process); Spi, Spatium intermembranosum (intermembranous cleft).