Purpose: Changes in the biomechanical properties of the lamina cribrosa (LC) and of the peripapillary sclera (ppSc) may play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of glyceraldehyde, methylglyoxal, and collagenase A on the mechanical properties of the LC and ppSc.
Methods: Two strips of 1-mm width were cut from each of 80 porcine eyes and 24 pairs of enucleated human eyes. One strip contained the LC and the other the adjacent superior ppSc. One half of the strips was divided into groups and treated with 0.5 M glyceraldehyde, 0.5 M methylglyoxal, and 0.1% collagenase A. The other strips served as the control. The stress strain relation was measured in the stress range of 0.02 to 6.0 MPa by a biomaterial tester.
Results: Stress values at 20% strain of the human LC changed from 1.97 +/- 1.48 to 3.40 +/- 1.60 MPa after incubation with glyceraldehyde (P = 0.029), from 2.42 +/- 2.22 to 5.46 +/- 1.91 MPa (P = 0.014) after incubation with methylglyoxal, and from 2.43 +/- 1.3 to 1.35 +/- 0.19 MPa after incubation with collagenase A. The stress values of human ppSc without glyceraldehyde were 3.40 +/- 2.59 and 7.45 +/- 4.46 MPa after incubation with glyceraldehyde (P = 0.047), 4.80 +/- 3.05 MPa without methylglyoxal and 16.10 +/- 5.53 MPa (P = 0.001) after incubation with methylglyoxal, 4.14 +/- 2.56 MPa without collagenase A, and 1.97 +/- 0.55 MPa after incubation with collagenase A. At a 20% strain, Young's moduli of the untreated LC were in the range of E = 11.8 to 15.6 MPa and E = 28.5 to 36.0 MPa of the untreated ppSc.
Conclusions: Glyceraldehyde and methylglyoxal increase the stiffness of the LC and of the ppSc in human and in porcine eyes. These substances induce changes in the extracellular matrix according to the Maillard reaction as it occurs during the ageing process or in case of high blood glucose levels. Collagenase reduces the stiffness of the tissues.