DETECTION OF PROTEOGLYCANS IN HUMAN POSTERIOR CAPSULE OPACIFICATION

Using cuprolinic blue staining, we histochemically examined the ultras tructural localization of proteoglycans in the fibrous-type human post erior capsule opacification. This capsule opacification contained prot eoglycans that showed positive staining with cuprolinic blue. Many cup rolinic-blue-positive filaments were present within the bundles of col lagen fibrils, basal lamina-like material and basal lamina of prolifer ated lens epithelial cells. Pretreatment with enzymes and nitrous acid revealed that the collagen fibrils contained chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate, whereas the basal lamina-like material and basal lam ina of epithelial cells contained heparan sulfate. These results sugge st that proteoglycans are one of the components in posterior capsule o pacification.