Ultrastructural Changes of the Rabbit Lens Fiber Cells in Cataract

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructural changes of lens fiber cells, length of gap junctions, and distribution of proteoplycans in cataractous lens. The cataract was induced by stabbing the posterior surface of the lens with 25 gauge needle. The lens were obseved by electron microscopy with estimation of the gap junction. Alcian blue stain was performed for examination of proteoglyscas. The results were as follows. Characteristic changes of the cataractous lens fiber cells were swelling and condensation of the cytoplasm, alterations of cytoplasmic granules including changes of density and size of cytoplasmic granules, and formation of microfibrills, high electron-dense amorphous substance, electron-dense particles, variably sized globular bodies, and multilamellar bodies. The lengths of gap junctions were 2.51+/-1.09um in control and 1.06+/-0.33um in cataractous lens fiber cells(P<0.001). Proteoglycans showing high electron-dense amophorous substance were distributed in the intercellular spaces along the cytoplasmic membrane in control group, but disapperaed in cataractous lens fiber cells. According to these results, it is conceivalble that the changes of the gap junctions and proteoglycans were closely related to the pathogenesis of cataract.