title: Lensfibre degeneration at cataract lenses. A LM, SEM and TEM investigation.
abstract: The degeneration process of lensfibres in a cataractous lens, described as the biochemical changes of a part of the lensproteins, can be characterised morphologically as follows: Emulsification of a part of the lensfibre-mass and the development of open spaces between the lensfibres with the formation of vacuoles (spherical structures) with a granular or a compact contents with high contrast, which is squeezed into the intercellular space. Degeneration of the ball & socket system interdigitation and microvilli domain system and the formation of almost empty rectangular structures in somewhat radial array. Balloon-like bulging of the cytoplasm of the lenscell, degeneration of the cytoplasm membrane and visualisation of a micro-filamentous network with enclosed cell organelles.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Histology & Cell Biology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalicharan
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Jongebloed
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Worst
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning