[Acute ultraviolet B induced lens epithelial cell photo-damage and its repair process].
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the process of acute lens epithelial cell photo-damage induced by ultraviolet B (UV-B) exposure and its repair.


METHODS
Pigmented rabbits were exposed to UV-B (300 mJ/cm2). The time course of lens epithelial cell photo-damage was evaluated by light microscopy of lens epithelial cell flat mounts. The flat mounted lens epithelial cells were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin or by immunohistochemistry with anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoclonal antibodies.


RESULTS
The lens epithelial cells were irregularly arranged and there were debris and pycnotic nuclei, small nuclei, existence of large cells, and phagocytosis of neighboring cells in the pupillary area. A repair process was seen in the injured areas within a week after UV-B exposure. PCNA positive cells were seen and it was confirmed that the healing of the photo-injured part was due to epithelial cell proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
The acute lens epithelial cell photo-damage induced by UV-B exposure was repaired within a week by cell proliferation.
Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada-machi, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan.
Y
Y
Yamada
M
M
Kojima
G F
GF
Vrensen
N
N
Takahashi
K
K
Sasaki
D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays