目的　观察圆锥角膜患者及正常人角膜组织中βig h3的表达 ,探讨细胞外基质结构成分在圆锥角膜病变中的作用。方法　采用原位杂交技术 ,以BIGH3基因的cDNA探针对圆锥角膜患者及正常人角膜组织中 βig h3mRNA进行细胞定位 ,检测角膜组织中 βig h3基因表达的水平。结果　正常角膜组织中βig h3表达主要在基质层 ;圆锥角膜患者βig h3在基质层表达因角膜病变的程度不同而呈不同程度的减弱 ,严重者未检测到 βig h3的阳性表达信号。在圆锥角膜的正常和病变交界处 ,可见 βig h3表达呈强阳性。结论　细胞外基质结构成分βig h3在角膜纤维间质有序化的发育中起细胞粘附作用 ,在圆锥角膜病变的发生过程中 ,βig h3的水平下降 ,导致角膜的稳固性下降 ,可能与圆锥角膜形成有关 Objective To observe the expression of βig h3 in keratoconus and normal human cornea, and to explore the role of extracellular matrix components in keratoconus. Methods The in situ hybridization was used to locate the βig h3 mRNA in keratoconus and normal human cornea by cDNA probe of BIGH3 gene. The expression of βig h3 gene in corneal tissue was detected by in situ hybridization. Results The expression of βig h3 in normal corneal tissue was mainly in the stromal layer. The expression of βig h3 in the corneal keratoma tissue was decreased to some extent due to the different degree of corneal disease. In severe cases, the expression of βig h3 was not detected. In the junction of the normal and diseased keratoconus, the expression of βig h3 was strongly positive. Conclusion βig h3, an extracellular matrix component, plays a role in cell adhesion during the development of keratinocyte interstitial tissue. The decrease of βig h3 during keratoconjunctival keratopathy may result in the decrease of corneal firmness, which may be related to the conical Corneal formation related