Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
The Mammalian Ocular Lens in Focus: Development, Anatomy, Physiology, Transparency, Biomechanics, and Age-Related Challenges
Published on: May 29, 2026
[A study of human lens epithelial cells by light and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemistry in different
Aleksandra Synder1, Aleksandra Omulecka, Marzena Ratyńska
1Katedry i Kliniki Chorób Oczu Akademii Medycznej w Łodzi.
Purpose:
To evaluate the characteristics of cataract changes in lens epithelial cells (LECs), in different types of human cataract.
Material And Methods:
Anterior capsules for the study were obtained from patients with different types of cataracts during extracapsular cataract extraction, or phacoemulsification using continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. LECs attached to the anterior capsules were analyzed for morphological changes by light and electron microscopy, and for cellular characteristics by immunohistochemistry. The reactivity to cytokeratins 5,6,8,17 and 19 (arker for epithelial cells) and to vimentin (arker for mesenchymal cells) was determined.
Results:
The consecutive degenerative changes were observed in most of the cells: multilayered cells, nuclei of abnormal diameters and shapes, vacuolation of nuclei and cytoplasm. LECs were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and vimentin, or only for vimentin in all types of cataract. Some of LECs showed morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of mesenchymal cells.
Conclusions:
Lens epithelial cells show similar degenerative changes in different types of cataract and may have the ability to transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells.
