Ultrastructure of the Lens Epithelium in Two Cases of the Electric Cataract

Yoon, Jong Whan; Song, Byung Joo; Choi, Young In

Abstract

The morpologic change in the lens epithelial cell, which is metabolically the most active part of the lens, are closely related with the formation of the cataract. To evaluate the morphologic changes of lens epithelial cells in electric cataracts, the central 5-6mm of anterior lens capsule and adherent lens epithelial cells were obtained from patients with an electric cataract. One-half of the anterior lens capsule was examined with a light microscope using flat preparation, while the other half was examined with a transmission electron microscope. In the light microscopic findings, the lens epithelial cell, which has a hexagonal shape with monolayer in normal, lost its normal shape and was superimposed in pathologic areas. The electron microscopic findings showed that the number of mitochondria in the cytoplasm was increased. The rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm was dilated and microfilaments were enriched. The dense bodies seen in the myofibrotic changes were observed lens capsule were also shown. The intracelluar vacuoles were seen in dying cells and growing of the cytoplasmic processes into the widened intercellular spaces were observed The authors recognized that the abnormal lens epithelial cells had altered cellular activity and that the cells in the patholoic areas had proliferated and degenerated.