Objective: To investigate the ultrastructure of lens epithelial cells of normal eyes and cataractous eyes in rhesus monkeys.
Methods: Anterior capsules were taken from 4 normal lenses and 4 cataractous lenses of rhesus monkey eyes, and the samples were observed under transmission electron microscope.
Results: The ultrastructure of the cataractous lens epithelial cells changed obviously. Mitochondria with disappearance of crista were swollen, and vacuolar. Hollow cell with a single large vacuole in the cytoplasm could be seen. The cytoplasm presented dissolution. Cells were swollen and damaged, even cell membrane disruption could be seen. Karyopyknosis, nuclear deformity, disappearance of perinuclear cistern and nuclear pores could be found. The heterochromatin was concentrated and aggregated at the nuclear periphery.
Conclusions: The ultrastructural changes of the lens epithelial cells in monkey cataractous lens are similar to that in human cataractous lens. Rhesus monkey cataract may be a suitable experimental model to investigate the formation of human cataract.