title: Cytomorphometric study of epithelial cells in normal and cataractous human lenses in relation with hyperglycemia.
abstract: The aim of the study is to evaluate and correlate the morphology and cell density of epithelial cells adhering to lens capsule surgically removed from the anterior central region with lens clarity and type of cataract present in patients with or without type 2 diabetes. Capsulorhexis specimens were obtained from patients who had undergone phacoemulsification cataract surgery. All the samples were centrifuged and stained by the aid of Papanicolaou technique and were observed under light microscope. We determinated the mean cell density, the degree of epithelial damage, and morphological indicators of cells such as cell area and the nucleus-plasma ratio. Patients with cataract demonstrated a statistical significant decrease in cell density and an heterogeneous cell picture in which enlarged cells dominated. In addition, type 2 diabetics with cataract had a significantly even lower mean epithelial cell density by the presence of larger cell area with smaller nucleus-plasma ratio. More pronounced alterations in the lens epithelium were correlated not only with the presence of cortical cataract, increased fasting blood sugar, and increased HbA1c but also with the prolonged duration of diabetes and the co-existence of diabetic retinopathy. It seems that density and morphology of the anterior lens epithelial cells determine the lens epithelium damage which is more profound in hyperglycemia and in cortical cataracts. The changes in lens epithelium seem to play an important role in cataractogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Eye Medical Center of Athens, Athens, Greece. glaspias@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Georgios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Laspias
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytopathology, "Aretaieion" Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia-Heleni
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Thomopoulou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lazaris
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavantzas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytopathology, "Aretaieion" Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koutselini
authors.affiliation: Eye Medical Center of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pagonis
authors.affiliation: Eye Medical Center of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsapeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytopathology, "Aretaieion" Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ekaterini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Politi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002452:Cell Count; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications*; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification
keywords: Anterior capsule; Cataract; Cell density; Diabetes; Epithelial cells