July 1995
Volume 36, Issue 8
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Articles  |   July 1995
Cataract induction in lenses cultured with transforming growth factor-beta.
Author Affiliations
  • A M Hales
    Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
  • C G Chamberlain
    Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
  • J W McAvoy
    Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 1995, Vol.36, 1709-1713. doi:
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      A M Hales, C G Chamberlain, J W McAvoy; Cataract induction in lenses cultured with transforming growth factor-beta.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995;36(8):1709-1713.

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Anterior subcapsular cataracts are characterized by the appearance of opaque plaques of abnormal cells. Distinctive spindle-shaped cells containing alpha-smooth muscle actin are present and are associated with wrinkling of the overlying lens capsule. Accumulations of extracellular matrix, including type I collagen, also are found. The authors previously reported that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces similar aberrant morphologic changes in lens epithelial explants. More recently, they identified alpha-smooth muscle actin in explants cultured with TGF-beta. The aim of this study was to determine whether TGF-beta induces comparable cataractous changes in whole lenses and to examine the effects of this treatment on the transparency of the lens. METHODS: Whole lenses from 21-day-old rats were cultured in defined serum-free medium with TGF-beta 2 or without added growth factors for 5 days. Lenses were then photographed and prepared for histology and immunolocalization. RESULTS: Lenses cultured with TGF-beta developed distinct anterior opacities just beneath the lens capsule. Histologically, clumps of abnormal cells corresponded with these opacities. Spindle-shaped cells, which contained alpha-smooth muscle actin, were present, and the overlying capsule was often wrinkled. The clumps contained accumulations of type I collagen, laminin, and heparan sulphate proteoglycan. In contrast, lenses cultured without growth factors remained transparent, retained normal lens morphology, and did not accumulate alpha-smooth muscle actin or type I collagen. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that TGF-beta induces whole lenses to form opacities that contain morphologic and biochemical markers for subcapsular cataract.

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