Hyaluronan synthase immunoreactivity in the anterior segment of the primate eye

The anterior segment of human and cynomologus monkey eyes was investigated for the presence of hyaluronan (HA) synthesizing cells using a polyclonal antibody against the enzyme HA synthase (HAS). In the chamber angle region the most intense staining was seen in the cell membranes of the corneal endothelium and in monkey eyes in the cells covering the posterior extension of the cornea (the operculum). The trabecular meshwork cells of the uveal and inner corneoscleral lamellae were also intensely stained. On the other hand, no staining was observed in the trabecular cells of the outer corneoscleral and the cribriform meshwork. The cell membranes of the inner wall endothelium of Schlemm's canal were labelled only at their luminal surface.