Localised fibre cell swelling characteristic of diabetic cataract can be induced in normal rat lens using the chloride channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid
Mj. Tunstall et al., Localised fibre cell swelling characteristic of diabetic cataract can be induced in normal rat lens using the chloride channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid, OPHTHAL RES, 31(4), 1999, pp. 317-320
Chloride channels are known to be involved in the regulated volume decrease
that occurs when the rat lens is exposed to hypotonic challenge. We now re
port that chloride channel blockage makes the rat lens gain water under iso
tonic conditions, suggesting that chloride and water fluxes may also play a
n important role under resting conditions. Histological comparison of hypot
onically and isotonically swollen rat lenses revealed a significant differe
nce: in the former, fibre cells were swollen from the periphery inwards, wh
ile in the latter, swollen fibre cells were confined to a discrete cortical
zone which was located 150-200 mu m from the lens surface with cells on ei
ther side of this zone appearing unaffected. This localised fibre cell swel
ling is remarkable because of its similarity to the situation in the diabet
ic rat lens.