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Morphology of the normal human lens.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Taylor, VL; al-Ghoul, KJ; Lane, CW; Davis, VA; Kuszak, JR; Costello, MJ
Published in: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
June 1996

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.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

ISSN

0146-0404

Publication Date

June 1996

Volume

37

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1396 / 1410

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Lens, Crystalline
  • Lens Nucleus, Crystalline
  • Lens Cortex, Crystalline
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Aging
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Taylor, V. L., al-Ghoul, K. J., Lane, C. W., Davis, V. A., Kuszak, J. R., & Costello, M. J. (1996). Morphology of the normal human lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 37(7), 1396–1410.
Taylor, V. L., K. J. al-Ghoul, C. W. Lane, V. A. Davis, J. R. Kuszak, and M. J. Costello. “Morphology of the normal human lens.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 37, no. 7 (June 1996): 1396–1410.
Taylor VL, al-Ghoul KJ, Lane CW, Davis VA, Kuszak JR, Costello MJ. Morphology of the normal human lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996 Jun;37(7):1396–410.
Taylor, V. L., et al. “Morphology of the normal human lens.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, vol. 37, no. 7, June 1996, pp. 1396–410.
Taylor VL, al-Ghoul KJ, Lane CW, Davis VA, Kuszak JR, Costello MJ. Morphology of the normal human lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996 Jun;37(7):1396–1410.

Published In

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

ISSN

0146-0404

Publication Date

June 1996

Volume

37

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1396 / 1410

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Lens, Crystalline
  • Lens Nucleus, Crystalline
  • Lens Cortex, Crystalline
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Aging