DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF LENS TRANSPARENCY

晶状体细胞中透明度的区分涉及一系列 细胞器消失，细胞膜和新陈代谢 特化的和细胞质的蛋白质集中在一种均一的， 透明的单相。之前的研究结果表明， 这种混浊可能会发生在类似于 晶状体细胞分化正常。均匀的蜂窝状结构 变得杂乱无章，细胞质从一个 随着光散射的增加，透明相变为两个单独的相。 从透明到不透明的转变是一个连续的过程， 可能包括早期白内障前期，该阶段出现在 体内观察到明显的光散射。根据调查结果 在过去的项目期间，我提出了一个假设，即白内障 形成包括异常分子的早期阶段 相互作用引发微妙的结构晶状体细胞混浊。这个 假设将通过以下目标进行检验： 目的一：混浊早期阶段的特征。 目的II：晶状体胞质内分子相互作用的定量研究 白内障形成的早期阶段。 目标III：晶状体生长过程中振荡的特征 白内障的发展。 这些研究的结果有望提供一种动物模型 人类白内障形成的早期阶段有机会 非手术预防混浊效果最好。

Differentiation of transparency in a lens cell involves a series of stages in which organelles disappear, membranes and metabolism become specialized and cytoplasmic proteins are concentrated into a homogeneous, transparent single phase. The results of the previous studies indicate that opacification may occur in stages that resemble the reversal of normal lens cell differentiation. The homogeneous cellular structure becomes disorganized and the cytoplasm is converted from a single transparent phase into two separate phases as light scattering increases. The transition from transparency to opacity is a continuous process which may include an early precataractous stage that is present prior to the observation of obvious light scattering in vivo. Based on the findings of the past project period, I propose the hypothesis that cataract formation includes an early stage in which abnormal molecular interactions initiate subtle structural lens cell opacification. The hypothesis will be tested through the following aims: Aim I: Characterization of the Early Stages of Opacification. Aim II: Quantification of Molecular Interactions in Lens Cytoplasm During Early Stages of Cataract Formation. Aim III: Characterization of Oscillations in Lens Growth During Development of Cataract. The results of these studies are expected to provide an animal model for the early stages of human cataract formation when the opportunity for non-surgical prevention of opacification is greatest.