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Junctional permeability measurements in the embryonic chick lens
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California at Irvine 92717, USA.
Experimental Eye Research
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Dissociated lens cells exhibit similar junctional permeability to cells in intact lenses. This study validates a photobleach method for measuring cell-to-cell permeability in both contexts.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell-to-cell communication is crucial for lens function.
- Understanding junctional permeability in lens cells is vital for eye health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify junctional permeability in dissociated lens cells.
- To compare this permeability to that of cells within an intact lens.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the fluorescent dye 5,6 carboxyfluorescein diacetate for permeability measurements.
- Employed confocal microscopy for precise quantitation and optical sectioning.
- Investigated both spherical and short elongated dissociated lens cell types.
Main Results:
- Dissociated spherical and elongated lens cells showed rate constants of 7.9 x 10(-3) sec-1 and 8.1 x 10(-3) sec-1, respectively.
- Lowering internal pH to 6.0 reduced junctional permeability.
- Intact lens epithelial cells exhibited a comparable rate constant of 2.6 x 10(-3) sec-1.
Conclusions:
- The photobleach method is effective for assessing junctional permeability in intact lenses.
- Dissociated lens epithelial cells closely mimic the junctional permeability of cells in vivo.