Abstract
The purpose of this work is to examine the structure of the anterior lens epithelial cells (aLECs) of presenile idiopathic cortical cataract to investigate the possible structural reasons for its development. The anterior lens capsules (aLCs: basement membrane and associated lens epithelial cells) were obtained from routine uneventful cataract surgery of 5 presenile cataract patients (16 and 41 years old women and 29, 39, and 45 years old men). None of the patients had family history of cataract, medication, or trauma and they were otherwise healthy. In addition, the patients did not have any other abnormal features in the ocular status except cataract. The aLCs were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The most prominent abnormal features observed by SEM for all 5 studied presenile cataract patients were the changes of the aLECs structure with the dents, the selective concavity of some LECs, at their apical side centrally toward the nucleus. In addition, TEM showed the thinning of the lens epithelium with the segmentally concave cells and the compressed and elongated nuclei. Abnormal and distinguishable structural features were observed in the anterior lens epithelium aLECs in all 5 patients with presenile cataract. Disturbed structure of aLECs, regularly present in presenile cataract type is shown that might be associated with water accumulation in the presenile idiopathic cortical cataract lens.
Highlights
Presenile cataracts, such as juvenile cataracts, are rare
With each of the three complementary techniques used, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal microscopy, we have shown that the apical surface of lens epithelial cells, oriented toward the fiber cells is smooth while at the basal surface, at the border with the lens capsule, the extensions and the entanglements of the cytoplasmic membrane of the lens epithelial cells are present [9]
The following figures represent the results of the SEM and TEM study of the anterior lens epithelium of each patient
Summary
Presenile cataracts, such as juvenile cataracts, are rare. A presenile cataract is considered as a cataract found in a person under 45 years of age [1]. Juvenile and presenile cataracts can range from mild and benign to advance and sight-threatening and usually have a distinct structure. Presenile cataracts may have a hereditary cause, or can result from trauma or chromosomal, endocrine, metabolic, or systemic disorders [3]. A sizeable percentage of presenile cataracts is of unknown cause. Presenile cataracts can be sporadic or familial. Among inherited non-syndromic cataract phenotypes, cataracts affecting the lens nucleus are common while cataracts limited to the lens cortex are rare [5]. The lens epithelium structure in idiopathic cortical presenile cataract to the best of our knowledge was not studied up to now
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