Anterior capsule opacification in monkey eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the morphologic features of anterior capsule opacifications in pseudophakic monkey eyes.


METHODS
Extracapsular lens extraction with implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in six monkey eyes. Eyes were enucleated 2, 4, and 12 months after implantation and then studied with light and electron microscopy. Distribution of proteoglycans was also examined with cuprolinic blue staining.


RESULTS
Anterior capsule opacifications were composed of proliferated cellular and extracellular matrix components situated between the anterior capsule and the optics of the intraocular lens. The morphologic features of the proliferated cells were consistent with epithelial cells, and these cells probably represented lens epithelial cells. The extracellular matrix, which consisted of collagen fibrils, basal lamina-like material, and microfibrils, was most prominent in the specimens obtained 12 months after lens implantation. The extracellular matrix contained proteoglycans that showed positive staining with cuprolinic blue.


CONCLUSIONS
Anterior capsule opacifications consisted of proliferated lens epithelial cells and aberrant extracellular matrix.
Ishibashi
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Araki
H
H
Sugai
S
S
Tawara
A
A
Ohnishi
Y
Y
Inomata
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002455:Cell Division; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007211:Indoles; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism
D007211:Indoles; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011509:Proteoglycans; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; C015445:copper phthalocyanine