Histochemical localization of hyaluronic acid in vitreous during embryonic development.

Abstract

HA appears very early in developing vitreous of mice and humans, and staining is observed first and predominantly in the equatorial portion of the vitreous. In contrast to human embryos, HA staining in the posterior mouse fetal vitreous is only faint and transient. In both species, staining of the internal layers of the retinal epithelium is detected in the presumptive ciliary body region and in the more posterior retina. The observed temporal and regional simultaneous localization of HA staining in the vitreous and the internal layers of the retinal epithelium is suggestive of a possible role for these cells in the production of the molecule.