Morphology of the normal human lens.
VL Taylor, KJ Al-Ghoul, CW Lane… - … & visual science, 1996 - iovs.arvojournals.org
VL Taylor, KJ Al-Ghoul, CW Lane, VA Davis, JR Kuszak, MJ Costello
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 1996•iovs.arvojournals.orgPURPOSE: To provide a quantitative, morphologic description of differentiated lens fiber
cells in all regions of aged normal human lenses. METHODS: Transparent normal human
lenses (age range, 44 to 71 years) were examined with correlative transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Vibratome sections allowed
examination of internal structures, whereas dissected whole lenses revealed surface
characteristics. Additionally, image analysis was used to measure cross-sectional areas of …
cells in all regions of aged normal human lenses. METHODS: Transparent normal human
lenses (age range, 44 to 71 years) were examined with correlative transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Vibratome sections allowed
examination of internal structures, whereas dissected whole lenses revealed surface
characteristics. Additionally, image analysis was used to measure cross-sectional areas of …
PURPOSE
To provide a quantitative, morphologic description of differentiated lens fiber cells in all regions of aged normal human lenses. METHODS
Transparent normal human lenses (age range, 44 to 71 years) were examined with correlative transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Vibratome sections allowed examination of internal structures, whereas dissected whole lenses revealed surface characteristics. Additionally, image analysis was used to measure cross-sectional areas of fiber cells. RESULTS
Approximate regional dimensions (percentage of diameter and thickness, respectively) were determined for whole lenses: cortex 16%, 17%; adult nucleus 24%, 21%; juvenile nucleus 12%, 9%; fetal nucleus 45%, 49%; and embryonic nucleus 3%, 4%. Cortical cells were irregularly hexagonal, and the average cross-sectional area measured 24+/-9 microns2. Adult nuclear cells were flattened with intricate membranous interdigitations and an area of 7+/-2 microns2. Juvenile nuclear cells had an area of 14+/-5 microns2. Fetal nuclear cells were rounded with an area of 35+/-22 microns2. Embryonic nuclear cells also were rounded and had a variable area of 80+/-68 microns2. Fiber cell cytoplasm in all lens regions appeared smooth in texture and homogeneous in staining density. CONCLUSIONS
Both TEM and SEM are necessary to obtain a complete description of fiber cells. Cross-sections of fibers give new insights into the lamellar organization of the lens, indicating that each region has characteristic cell shapes and sizes. Furthermore, average dimensions were used to demonstrate that the number of cells and approximate growth rates vary significantly between adjacent regions.ARVO Journals