Centrioles and cilia in the mesothelial cells of the pericanalicular region

An evaluation of 70 trabecular meshwork biopsies obtained at the time of therapeutic surgery in glaucomatous and cataractous eyes revealed that the mesothelial cells in the iridocorneal angle had a marked abundance of cilia and centrioles. The distribution of cells showing cilia and/or centrioles is positively correlated with the apparent aqueous humor outflow pathway. The morphology and arrangement of the cilia-centriole complexes in the angle are highly variable and show many forms not previously reported in a single tissue. There were no obvious correlations between organelle abundance and the identifiable factors affecting the patients involved in this study.