{"@type": "dcat:Dataset", "accessLevel": "public", "bureauCode": ["009:25"], "contactPoint": {"@type": "vcard:Contact", "fn": "NIH", "hasEmail": "mailto:info@nih.gov"}, "description": "Background\n          The iridocorneal angle forms in the mammalian eye from undifferentiated \nmesenchyme between the root of the iris and cornea. A major component is the \ntrabecular meshwork, consisting of extracellular matrix organized into a \nnetwork of beams, covered in trabecular endothelial cells. Between the beams, \nchannels lead to Schlemm's canal for the drainage of aqueous humor from the eye \ninto the blood stream. Abnormal development of the iridocorneal angle that \ninterferes with ocular fluid drainage can lead to glaucoma in humans. Little is \nknown about the precise mechanisms underlying angle development. There are two \nmain hypotheses. The first proposes that morphogenesis involves mainly cell \ndifferentiation, matrix deposition and assembly of the originally continuous \nmesenchymal mass into beams, channels and Schlemm's canal. The second, based \nprimarily on rat studies, proposes that cell death and macrophages play an \nimportant role in forming channels and beams. Mice provide a potentially useful \nmodel to understand the origin and development of angle structures and how \ndefective development leads to glaucoma. Few studies have assessed the normal \nstructure and development of the mouse angle. We used light and electron \nmicroscopy and a cell death assay to define the sequence of events underlying \nformation of the angle structures in mice.\n        \n        \n          Results\n          The mouse angle structures and developmental sequence are similar to those \nin humans. Cell death was not detectable during the period of trabecular \nchannel and beam formation.\n        \n        \n          Conclusions\n          These results support morphogenic mechanisms involving organization of \ncellular and extracellular matrix components without cell death or atrophy.", "distribution": [{"@type": "dcat:Distribution", "description": "Visit the original government dataset for complete information, documentation, and data access.", "downloadURL": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC31337/", "mediaType": "text/html", "title": "Official Government Data Source"}], "identifier": "https://healthdata.gov/api/views/6ung-5iz8", "issued": "2025-07-13", "keyword": ["aqueous-humor-drainage", "glaucoma-development", "iridocorneal-angle", "nih", "trabecular-meshwork"], "landingPage": "https://healthdata.gov/d/6ung-5iz8", "modified": "2025-09-06", "programCode": ["009:033"], "publisher": {"@type": "org:Organization", "name": "National Institutes of Health"}, "theme": ["NIH"], "title": "The mouse anterior chamber angle and trabecular meshwork develop \nwithout cell death"}