Cellular alterations accompany opacification in the cultured lens

An examination of frog lenses cultured in specific serum-enriched medium was undertaken in order to determine whether such lenses could serve as in vitro models for studying the role of the lens epithelial cell. Histological analysis after sectioning of the lens revealed multilayered epithelial plaques and epithelial invasion of vacuolated cortical fibres, accompanied by the deposition of capsule-like material. A comparison of the effects of two media, L-15 and 199, indicated a greater incidence of opacification induced by L-15, which may be correlated with changes in lens epithelial cell nuclei.