Histopathologic Investigation of Anterior Lens Capsule in Diabetic Eyes

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

To investigate the histopathologic features of anterior lenscapsules of the eyes of cases with diabetes mellitus (DM) andage matched controls.

 

Methods:

 

11 eyes of 11 cases (mean age: 67.18 years) with type II DMsuffering from age-related cataract were assigned to study groupand 15 eyes of 15 nondiabetic cases (mean age:65.38 years) withage-related cataract, to control group. Capsule samples wereobtained by circular continuous capsulorhexis during phacoemulsificationprocedures. All samples were fixed and conventionally processedfor electron microscopy analysis.

 

Results:

 

In study group, electron dense cells with apoptotic appearancewere commonly seen and these cells had apoptotic nucleus andprominent mitochondrial crystalsis. Also there was dilatationof endoplasmic reticulum cisternas (fig 1:The appearance ofapoptotic cells (red arrow)). In control group, lens epithelialcells and all their elements were observed in normal pattern.Neither cells with apoptotic appearance nor mitochondrial crystalsiswere seen, and there was also the dilatation of endoplasmicreticulum cisternas (fig 2:The appearance of epithelial celland mitochondria normally (yellow arrow), and the dilatationof endoplasmic reticulum cistern (red arrow)).

 

Conclusions:

 

The prominent mitochondrial crystalsis and the dilatation ofendoplasmic reticulum cisternas indicate the presence of severedegeneration in diabetic group. DM can engender ultrastructuralabnormalities in the anterior lens capsule.  

 

 

Keywords: diabetes • pathology: human • immunohistochemistry