DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF LENS TRANSPARENCY

透镜细胞中透明度的分化涉及一系列的 细胞器消失的阶段，膜和代谢变得 特化的和细胞质的蛋白质被浓缩成均匀的， 透明单相。 先前的研究结果表明， 不透明化可能发生在类似于逆转的阶段， 正常的透镜细胞分化。 均匀的细胞结构 变得杂乱无章，细胞质从单一的 随着光散射的增加，透明相变成两个单独的相。 从透明到不透明的转变是一个连续的过程， 可包括在发生白内障之前存在的早期白内障前期阶段， 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，我提出假设，白内障 形成包括早期阶段，其中异常分子 相互作用引发细微的结构性透镜细胞混浊。 的 将通过以下目标检验假设： 目的一：早期混浊的表征。 目的II：在晶状体植入过程中透镜细胞质中分子相互作用的定量 白内障形成的早期阶段 目的III：表征在生长期间透镜生长中的振荡 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， 对混浊的非手术预防是最大的。

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.