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Square arrays in early cortical lens opacities
G Vrensen1, J Van Marle, B Willekens
1Department of Morphology, The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, Amsterdam.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|November 1, 1990
Summary
In aging human lenses, early opaque spots show no gap junctions but instead have square arrays, indicating fiber uncoupling. This may help maintain lens transparency in unaffected areas.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Human lens transparency is crucial for vision.
- Aging leads to changes in lens fiber structure and function.
- Early opaque spots are precursors to cataracts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural changes in early opaque spots in the aging human lens.
- To examine the presence and nature of intercellular junctions in affected and unaffected lens fibers.
Main Methods:
- Combined freeze-fracture and scanning electron microscopy.
- Analysis of membrane structures in human lens fibers.
Main Results:
- Absence of gap junctions in early opaque spots.
- Presence of square arrays in membranes of disturbed and neighboring lens fibers.
- Square arrays suggest rearranged gap junctions and/or intramembranous particles, indicative of uncoupling.
Conclusions:
- Ultrastructural evidence supports an uncoupling mechanism in aging human lens fibers.
- This uncoupling may contribute to maintaining transparency in unaffected regions of the aging lens.