Lens Cell Membrane Permeability and Cataract Formation.

Abstract

Hexosamine analysis reflecting the content of mucopolysaccharides of the renal papillae of rats in varying states of diuresis and anti-diuresis was carried out. States of anti-diuresis were associated with low levels of hexosamine, while states of diuresis were associated with high levels of hexosamine. Hexosamine contents were correlated with physiologic and histochemical data.

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Opaque and Transparent States in Reversible Calf Lens Cataracts

“…It is reasonable to assume that changes, which may include patch formation, in lens cell membranes rep resent the earliest stages of cellular disruption associated with opacifica tion. Indeed, a number of recent reports relate changes in membrane composition and function with opacification [Broekhuy.se, 1973;Collier and Apple, 1973;Drenckhahn and Lullmann-Rauch, 1977;Feldman and Feldman, 1965;Kinoshita, 1974;Kinsey and Hightower, 1978;Maraini and Orsoni, 1975;Patterson and Bunting, 1964;Rathbun et al, 1978;Sanders et ai, 1974;Shinohara and Piatigorsky, 1977]. In some cases, the membrane-associated cataracts are reversible in their early stages before the membranes are disrupted.…”

A quantitative microprobe analysis of elements in cortical and nuclear cells of the calf lens

“…This relationship was more firmly established by numerous studies of elemental composition in the transparent and opaque states of lenses (Fischer, 1933;Salit et al, 1942;Updegraff, 1932;Van Heyningen, 1969;Mackay et al, 1932;Hart et al, 1963;Bushell, 1975, 1976;Kinsey and Hightower, 1978;Swanson and Truesdale, 1971;Racz and Kellermayer, 1977;Adams, 1929). The importante of biologica1 elements is represented by findings that lens membrane structure and function are altered by changes in sodium and potassium levels (Shinohara and Piatigorsky, 1977;Patterson and Bunting, 1964;Delamere and Paterson, 1978) and that both cytoplasm and membranes are restructured by variations in calcium concentrations (Clark et al, 1980;Hightower and Reddy, 1982;Spector and Rothschild, 1973;Jedziniak et al, 1972). Recently, changes in phosphorylated constituents have been measured by nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectroscopy under conditions that produce cellular restructuring and opacity (Lerman et al, 1982;Greiner et al, 1982).…”