Tissue Culture Modelling of Microwave Induced Cataracts of the Eye Lens.
Abstract
Intact rat lenses incubated in Medium 199 (M199) at 35.5 maintain their transparency for at least 9 days. When heated to various temperatures for 1 hour to model cataractogenesis by elevated temperatures, followed by 47 hours at 35.5 C, some lenses developed cataractous opacities, depending on the temperature of incubation. At 39 C slight globular degeneration of fiber cells appeared, localized in the equatorial region, with globules up to 20 microns in diameter as has been reported for glucose-induced cataracts. At 41 C the globular degeneration was deeper at the equatorial region, extending towards the nucleus and extended to the anterior and posterior of the lens. At 47 C and 50 C some very large globules were formed (ca 200 microns across) and the globular degeneration was more extensive. At higher temperatures (60 C) lenses did not become opaque. They had normal transparency and acuity, perhaps because they had been fixed, by a process similar to histological fixation. The morphological appearance of such lenses examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was normal. D-alpha-tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E) when added to lenses before incubation at 41 C, prevented the globular degeneration observed at this temperature. These results indicate that the intact rat lens in M199 appears much more sensitive to elevation in temperature than does the lens in vivo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA083571
Entities
People
- John R. Trevithick
Organizations
- Western University