Presbyopia and the optical changes in the human crystalline lens with age

Lenses from 27 human eyes ranging in age from 10 to 87 years were used to determine how accommodation and age affect the optical properties of the lens. A scanning laser technique was used to measure focal length and spherical aberration of the lenses, while the lenses were subjected to stretching forces applied through the ciliary body/zonular complex. The focal length of all unstretched lenses increased linearly with increasing age. Younger lenses were able to undergo significant changes in focal length with stretching, whereas lenses older than 60 years of age showed no changes in focal length with stretching. These data provide additional evidence for predominantly lens-based theories of presbyopia. Further, these results show that there are substantial optical changes in the human lens with increasing age and during accommodation, since both the magnitude and the sign of the spherical aberration change with age and stretching. These results show that the optical properties of the older presbyopic lens are quite different from the younger, accommodated lens.

The mechanism of accommodation in primates

OBJECTIVE

To study the accommodative mechanism in primates using monkeys, in light of a recently proposed novel accommodative mechanism in primates and a concomitant controversial surgical procedure for the reversal of presbyopia,

DESIGN

Experimental study.

METHODS

Accommodation was induced by stimulation of an electrode surgically implanted in the midbrain and by topical ocular application of muscarinic agonists. Pharmacologic disaccommodation was achieved by topical application of a muscarinic antagonist. Movements of the lens equator and the ciliary body were imaged during accommodation and disaccommodation using ultrasound biomicroscopy and goniovideography, and the images were analyzed to determine the direction and the extent of the movements.

RESULTS

Despite the systematic eye movements occurring with electrical stimulation and the nonsystematic eye movements occurring with pharmacologic stimulation, in all instances the ciliary body and the lens equator moved away from the sclera during accommodation.

CONCLUSIONS

Movement of the accommodative structures is consistent with the classic mechanism of accommodation described by Helmholtz, and contrary to that recently proposed by Schachar.

A release mechanism for stored ATP in ocular ciliary epithelial cells

Purines can modify ciliary epithelial secretion of aqueous humor into the eye. The source of the purinergic agonists acting in the ciliary epithelium, as in many epithelial tissues, is unknown. We found that the fluorescent ATP marker quinacrine stained rabbit and bovine ciliary epithelia but not the nerve fibers in the ciliary bodies. Cultured bovine pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells also stained intensely when incubated with quinacrine. Hypotonic stimulation of cultured epithelial cells increased the extracellular ATP concentration by 3-fold; this measurement underestimates actual release as the cells also displayed ecto-ATPase activity. The hypotonically triggered increase in ATP was inhibited by the Cl--channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB) in both cell types. In contrast, the P-glycoprotein inhibitors tamoxifen and verapamil and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) blockers glybenclamide and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate did not affect ATP release from either cell type. This pharmacological profile suggests that ATP release is not restricted to P-glycoprotein or the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, but can proceed through a route sensitive to NPPB. ATP release also was triggered by ionomycin through a different NPPB-insensitive mechanism, inhibitable by the calcium/calmodulin-activated kinase II inhibitor KN-62. Thus, both layers of the ciliary epithelium store and release ATP, and purines likely modulate aqueous humor flow by paracrine and/or autocrine mechanisms within the two cell layers of this epithelium.

ARL13B, PDE6D, and CEP164 form a functional network for INPP5E ciliary targeting

Mutations affecting ciliary components cause a series of related genetic disorders in humans, including nephronophthisis (NPHP), Joubert syndrome (JBTS), Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS), and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), which are collectively termed "ciliopathies." Recent protein-protein interaction studies combined with genetic analyses revealed that ciliopathy-related proteins form several functional networks/modules that build and maintain the primary cilium. However, the precise function of many ciliopathy-related proteins and the mechanisms by which these proteins are targeted to primary cilia are still not well understood. Here, we describe a protein-protein interaction network of inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase E (INPP5E), a prenylated protein associated with JBTS, and its ciliary targeting mechanisms. INPP5E is targeted to the primary cilium through a motif near the C terminus and prenyl-binding protein phosphodiesterase 6D (PDE6D)-dependent mechanisms. Ciliary targeting of INPP5E is facilitated by another JBTS protein, ADP-ribosylation factor-like 13B (ARL13B), but not by ARL2 or ARL3. ARL13B missense mutations that cause JBTS in humans disrupt the ARL13B-INPP5E interaction. We further demonstrate interactions of INPP5E with several ciliary and centrosomal proteins, including a recently identified ciliopathy protein centrosomal protein 164 (CEP164). These findings indicate that ARL13B, INPP5E, PDE6D, and CEP164 form a distinct functional network that is involved in JBTS and NPHP but independent of the ones previously defined by NPHP and MKS proteins.

The force of contraction of the human ciliary muscle during accommodation

1. Apparatus has been designed to alter the shape of the human lens by tensile forces applied to the zonular fibres indirectly through the ciliary body. The changes in dioptric power of the lens for monochromatic sodium light were measured at the same time. Simultaneous serial photography, and direct measurement enabled one to relate a change in shape of the lens to the change in dioptric power. Subsequently, the same lens was isolated and spun around its antero-posterior polar axis and high speed photography recorded its changing profile.2. By comparing the changes in lens profile due to zonular tension and centrifugal force respectively, the force developed in the zonule for a given change in the shape of the lens could be calculated. Changes in dioptric power associated with those of shape can thus be related directly to the force of contraction of the ciliary muscle necessary to reduce the initial tension of the zonule in the unaccommodated state.3. The force of contraction of the ciliary muscle as measured by radial force exerted through the zonule and the change in dioptric power of the lens were not linearly related. The relationship is more exactly expressed by the equation [Formula: see text] where D = amplitude of accommodation in dioptres (m(-1)), F(CB) = force of contraction of the ciliary muscle as measured by changes in tension of the zonule (N), K(df) = dioptric force coefficient and is constant for a given age (m(-1)N(-(1/2)) x 10(2.5)). This coefficient is 0.41 at 15 yr and 0.07 at 45 yr of age.4. In youth for maximum accommodation (10-12 D) the force is approximately 1.0 x 10(-2) N while to produce sufficient accommodation for near vision (3.5 D) the force is less than 0.05 x 10(-2) N.5. After the age of 30 yr the force of contraction of the ciliary muscle necessary to produce maximum accommodation rises steadily to about 50 yr of age and thereafter probably falls slightly. At about 50 yr of age the ciliary muscle is some 50% more powerful than in youth.6. Even if hypertrophy of the muscle did not occur the amplitude of accommodation would be reduced at the most by only 0.8 D of that observed at the onset of presbyopia.

Functional morphology of the trabecular meshwork in primate eyes

The trabecular meshwork forms most of the resistance to aqueous humor outflow needed for maintenance of a pressure gradient between intraocular pressure of approximately 17 mmHg and venous pressure of approximately 10 mmHg. The composition of the extracellular material in the subendothelial or cribriform layer seems to be mainly responsible for outflow resistance. The aqueous humor pathways through the subendothelial layer can be influenced by ciliary muscle contraction and presumably also by contractile elements recently found both in trabecular meshwork and scleral spur. Pharmacologically induced disconnection of inner wall and cribriform cells leads to wash out of extracellular material through breaks of the endothelial lining of Schlemm's canal and to increase of outflow facility. In glaucomatous eyes the resistance to aqueous humor outflow is increased due to an increase in different forms of extracellular material deposited within the cribriform layer. The amount of this newly developed extracellular material is correlated with loss of axons in the optic nerve, indicating that a common factor is responsible for both changes. To investigate the effect of various factors on the biology of trabecular cells monolayer cultures derived from cribriform and corneoscleral trabecular meshwork have been established. The two cell lines can be differentiated because cribriform cells in vivo as in vitro stain for alphabeta-crystallin whereas the corneoscleral cells remain unstained. The effect of TGFbeta, a growth factor increased in aqueous humor of glaucomatous eyes and glycocorticoids on trabecular meshwork cells show typical changes in formation of extracellular matrix components and of stress proteins. Dexamethasone and oxidative damage also lead to increase of trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response (TIGR) protein. A mutation of the TIGR-gene family has recently been found in families with juvenile and chronic simple glaucoma. Future research has to clarify the significance of these genetic factors for the pathophysiology of glaucoma and the role of trabecular cell activity in this respect.

Morphological changes in glaucomatous eyes and the role of TGFβ2 for the pathogenesis of the disease

This review summarizes the Ernst H. Bárány Prize Lecture given at the XVI. meeting 2004 of the International Society of Eye Research in Sydney, Australia. The article describes the author's early studies starting with the determination of the site of aqueous humour outflow resistance and its regulation through ciliary muscle contraction, which were performed in collaborations with Bárány. It continues with the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the trabecular meshwork (TM) changes seen in different kinds of glaucoma diseases. A comparison of correlations between meshwork pathology, IOP, and axon loss in the optic nerve between eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) indicates that in the secondary glaucoma (PEXG) optic neuropathy is mainly induced by an increase in IOP. In eyes with POAG, the correlations point towards a more complex pathogenesis of the disease. Common factors might be involved in both the TM and the optic nerve changes. In vitro studies performed in cell cultures of human TM cells and optic nerve astrocytes as well as organ culture studies of the anterior eye segment indicate that TGFbeta2 might be one of the factors involved in the development of POAG. The paper is primarily focused on studies performed by the author and complete reference to other previous or contemporary studies is therefore not given as the purpose is not to present a comprehensive review article.

Reduction of endogenous transforming growth factors beta prevents ontogenetic neuron death

We show that following immunoneutralization of endogenous transforming growth factors beta (TGF-beta) in the chick embryo, ontogenetic neuron death of ciliary, dorsal root and spinal motor neurons was largely prevented, and neuron losses following limb bud ablation were greatly reduced. Likewise, preventing TGF-beta signaling by treatment with a TbetaR-II fusion protein during the period of ontogenetic cell death in the ciliary ganglion rescued all neurons that normally die. TUNEL staining revealed decreased numbers of apoptotic cells following antibody treatment. Exogenous TGF-beta rescued the TGF-beta-deprived phenotype. We conclude that TGF-beta is critical in regulating ontogenetic neuron death as well as cell death following neuronal target deprivation.

Biophysics of the cochlea: linear approximation

Several deficiencies affecting previous "box" models of the cochlea are overcome in this paper. Both mechanical and hydrodynamical aspects are treated at a level adequate to the complexity of realistic cochlear structures. The dynamics of the cochlea as a passive physical system, in the linear approximation, is described by an integral equation. It is further shown that this equation describes the properties of the working cochlea, provided a force term that accounts for hair cell motility is included. Numerical solutions for different degrees of outer hair cells activity, obtained by matrix methods in the frequency domain, are presented. Amplitudes and phases of the computer-simulated traveling waves are in fair agreement with basilar membrane responses to tones measured in various experimental conditions.

Cloning and characterization of subtracted cDNAs from a human ciliary body library encoding TIGR, a protein involved in juvenile open angle glaucoma with homology to myosin and olfactomedin

A group of cDNAs isolated from a subtractive ciliary body library of a normal human eye donor revealed 100% identity with TIGR a candidate gene responsible for juvenile open zangle glaucoma [Science 275 (1997) 668-670]. Several structural features of the deduced human protein have been noted: a cleavable N-terminal signal peptide, a periodic repetition at the N-terminus of leucine and arginine residues at every seventh and eleven position respectively in helix conformation (leucine zipper-like motif) exhibiting homology with myosin, and with olfactomedin in the C-terminus. The mRNA for TIGR is abundantly expressed in the ciliary body, iris, heart and skeletal muscle.

The role of ClC-3 in volume-activated chloride currents and volume regulation in bovine epithelial cells demonstrated by antisense inhibition

1. A chloride current with mild outward rectification was induced in the native bovine non-pigmented ciliary epithelial (NPCE) cells by a 23 % hypotonic solution. The current showed no or little inactivation at depolarized steps. 2. ATP blocked 88 and 61 % of the outward and inward components of the volume-activated chloride current (ICl,vol) with an IC50 of 5.3 and 9.6 mM, respectively. 3. The volume-activated chloride current was decreased and the activation of the current was delayed by inhibiting endogenous ClC-3 expression using a ClC-3 antisense oligonucleotide. The inhibition of the current as a function of antisense concentration was asymptotic with a maximum about 60 %. The remaining current was probably not derived from ClC-3 and was inhibited by ATP. 4. ClC-3 expression in the bovine NPCE cells was verified by immunofluorescence studies. ClC-3 immunofluorescence was distributed throughout the cells but with the predominant location within the nucleus. The expression of ClC-3 protein was diminished by the ClC-3 antisense oligonucleotide with the greatest diminution occurring in the nuclear region. 5. The size of the volume-activated chloride current was positively correlated with the ClC-3 immunofluorescence level. 6. Regulatory volume decrease of the NPCE cells was reduced by ClC-3 antisense oligonucleotide. 7. We conclude that endogenous ClC-3 is associated with the volume-activated chloride current and is involved in cell volume regulation, but that it can only contribute towards a proportion of the current in NPCE cells. 8. The nuclear predominance of ClC-3 immunofluorescence in NPCE cells, the absence of basal activity of chloride current and the marked pharmacological differences between IClC-3 and ICl,vol argue against ClC-3 being the only, or even the main, volume-activated chloride channel in NPCE cells.

A3 adenosine receptors regulate Cl- channels of nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells

Adenosine stimulates Cl- channels of the nonpigmented (NPE) cells of the ciliary epithelium. We sought to identify the specific adenosine receptors mediating this action. Cl- channel activity in immortalized human (HCE) NPE cells was determined by monitoring cell volume in isotonic suspensions with the cationic ionophore gramicidin present. The A3-selective agonist N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA) triggered shrinkage (apparent Kd = 55 +/- 10 nM). A3-selective antagonists blocked IB-MECA-triggered shrinkage, and A3-antagonists (MRS-1097, MRS-1191, and MRS-1523) also abolished shrinkage produced by 10 microM adenosine when all four known receptor subtypes are occupied. The A1-selective agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine exerted a small effect at 100 nM but not at higher or lower concentrations. The A2A agonist CGS-21680 triggered shrinkage only at high concentration (3 microM), an effect blocked by MRS-1191. IB-MECA increased intracellular Ca2+ in HCE cells and also stimulated short-circuit current across rabbit ciliary epithelium. A3 message was detected in both HCE cells and rabbit ciliary processes using RT-PCR. We conclude that human HCE cells and rabbit ciliary processes possess A3 receptors and that adenosine can activate Cl- channels in NPE cells by stimulating these A3 receptors.

Elasticity of tissues involved in accommodation

Uniaxial loading of human lens, zonules, ciliary muscle, and choroid shows a nonlinear relationship between stress and deformation of the specimen, and hysteresis on unloading. Spring constants, at 10% elongation, have been calculated for all specimens and for several combinations. Except for zonules they are significantly correlated with age. They will provide a basis for a model of accommodation. The mean force required for 10% elongation of the lens, at mean age 43, is about 22 x greater than for the zonules; and the mean elongation of the zonules is nearly 7 x that of the lens at a load of 0.01 N (approximately 1 g). Ranges of forces and pressures in the accommodated and nonaccommodated eye are estimated.

Biometric investigation of changes in the anterior eye segment during accommodation

Non-invasive biometry of the anterior structures of the human eye can be performed with unprecedented precision of 8-10 microns and a resolution of approximately 9 microns by partial coherence interferometry, which has the potential to assess the effect of cycloplegia on the ocular components of the anterior eye segment, to further improve the precision to 1-2 microns by the use of these agents and to quantify the amount of residual accommodations in different states of cycloplegia. In addition, the anterior chamber depth, the thickness of the crystalline lens, their changes during accommodation, as well as the movement of the anterior and posterior lens pole during accommodation can be quantified objectively and accurately to investigate the mechanism of accommodation.

Intraocular lens movement caused by ciliary muscle contraction

PURPOSE

To investigate intraocular lens (IOL) movement, measured as a change in anterior chamber depth (ACD) caused by pilocarpine-induced ciliary muscle contraction.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

METHODS

In this prospective study, the ACD was measured using high-precision, high-resolution, dual-beam partial coherence interferometry in 62 pseudophakic eyes of 55 patients under pilocarpine- and cyclopentolate-induced ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation. The following were studied: 2 models of a ring-haptic IOL (designed to accommodate), a plate-haptic IOL, and 3 types of 3-piece IOLs. Measurements were performed 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

The ring-haptic IOLs and plate-haptic IOL showed a forward movement (ring haptic 43A, -116 microm; ring haptic 43E, -222 microm; plate haptic -162 microm). The 3-piece IOLs showed no change in ACD except in 1 IOL type in which there was backward movement (156 microm).

CONCLUSIONS

Pilocarpine-induced ciliary muscle contraction caused forward movement of ring- and plate-haptic IOLs that resulted in an estimated accommodative amplitude of less than 0.50 diopter in most cases. The accommodating ring-haptic IOLs did not perform better than the conventional plate-haptic IOL.

Blood-eye barriers in the rat: correlation of ultrastructure with function

The function of different vascular beds in the rat eye and brain was evaluated by measuring the transfer of a vascular tracer, 14C-alpha-amino-isobutyric acid, from blood to tissue. The density of vascular pores was measured in electron micrographs of perfusion-fixed, age-matched tissue to determine whether the differences in tracer transfer were paralleled by differences in ultrastructure. Tracer transfer in retina was approximately four times that in brain of the same animal. The transfer constant was not changed by the inclusion of cold alpha-amino-isobutyric acid, showing that transport across retinal vessels is not saturable, and indicating that, as in brain, transport is due to passive diffusion. Ultrastructurally, retinal vessels have a higher density of interendothelial junctions and of endothelial vesicles, both of which suggest higher vascular permeability. However, pericytes, which contribute to a second line of defence in the blood-brain barrier, are approximately four times as numerous in retina as in brain, and we suggest that in the retina, they act to compensate for a more permeable endothelial barrier. Ciliary body vessels had a high transfer of tracer, probably as a consequence of the fenestrations in their walls. Iridial vessels had a relatively low transfer of tracer, similar to that in retina even though a proportion of the interendothelial junctions in iridial vessels had expanded junctional clefts suggestive of open paracellular channels. However, both iris and ciliary body may lose tracer to the anterior chamber fluid, leading us to underestimate the vascular permeability in these sites.

Differential smooth muscle-like contractile properties of trabecular meshwork and ciliary muscle

The contractile properties of bovine trabecular meshwork and ciliary muscle strips were investigated using an electromagnetic force-length transducer for isometric force measurements. Acetylcholine, pilocarpine and aceclidine administration resulted in dose-dependent contractions of trabecular meshwork and ciliary muscle. Absolute forces were approximately 10 times larger in ciliary muscle than in trabecular meshwork. Maximal force evoked by aceclidine (5 x 10(-5) M), when compared to the pilocarpine (5 x 10(-5) M) response, was significantly higher in trabecular meshwork than in ciliary muscle. The results were 172.5 +/- 12.6% (n = 7) and 138.9 +/- 4.0% (n = 8, P less than 0.05), respectively. Depolarization induced by raised external potassium (120 mM), when compared to the acetylcholine response (10(-3) M), resulted in a small contraction of 19.3 +/- 4.2% in trabecular meshwork (n = 5), and of 59.0 +/- 13.7% in ciliary muscle (n = 4, P less than 0.01). Both responses were inhibited by atropine (10(-5) M). The differential potassium effect may be explained by the large number of cholinergic nerve endings in ciliary muscle as compared to trabecular meshwork tissue. Recently, a dissociation between the effects of aceclidine on outflow resistance and accommodation has been described. Our data are consistent with these observations and provide evidence for a direct role of trabecular meshwork contractility in aqueous outflow regulation.

Expression and cellular localization of the kallikrein-kinin system in human ocular tissues

Tissue kallikrein is a serine proteinase which processes kininogens to release bioactive kinins. Kinins mediate a variety of biological processes through the interaction with kinin receptors. Kinins are involved in the regulation of blood pressure and local blood flow, vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction and relaxation, production of pain and inflammation, and stimulation of cell proliferation. The tissue kallikrein-kinin system has been implicated in a number of pathophysiological processes such as hypertension, allergy and diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we have identified the expression and localization of components of the kallikrein-kinin system in the human eye by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analyses, and in situ hybridization histochemistry. RT-PCR and Southern blot analyses have detected mRNAs of the key components of the system including tissue kallikrein, low molecular weight kininogen, and bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors at high levels in human retina, choroid and ciliary body, and relatively low levels in the optic nerve. In situ hybridization has identified cellular localization of these four mRNAs in ocular tissues. They are expressed in retinal neuronal cells including the outer nuclear layer, inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer. These mRNAs were also identified in endothelial cells of ocular blood vessels, ciliary muscle and lens epithelial cells. The sense riboprobes showed negative staining, which indicates the specificity of the antisense riboprobes. These results suggest that the tissue kallikrein-kinin system is produced endogenously in human ocular tissues. Similar expression patterns of kallikrein, kininogen and kinin receptors indicate that the kallikrein-kinin system may function in an autocrine or paracrine fashion in the eye.

Electrogenic sodium-bicarbonate cotransport in human ciliary muscle cells

We investigated membrane voltage and intracellular pH (pHi) in cultured human ciliary muscle cells using a cell line (H7CM) and primary-cultured human ciliary muscle cells. 1) Resting potential was 58.9 +/- 1.0 mV in H7CM cells and 61.9 +/- 1.4 mV in primary cultures. The following data are from H7CM cells, but results from primary cultures were basically similar. 2) In HCO3(-)-CO2-buffered solution, removal of extracellular sodium resulted in a depolarization [change in membrane resistance (delta V) = 31.3 +/- 2.8 mV] that was less marked in the absence of HCO3(-)-CO2 (delta V = 0.5 +/- 2.6 mV) and reduced by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) (delta V = 19.3 +/- 1.9 mV). 3) Removal of extracellular HCO3(-)-CO2 led to a depolarization (delta V = 13.2 +/- 0.8 mV) that was abolished in the absence of extracellular sodium and inhibited by DIDS. 4) Intracellular alkalinization led to a depolarization (delta V = 24.7 +/- 2.3 mV), and intracellular acidification resulted in a hyperpolarization (delta V = 9.4 +/- 1.1 mV) that was inhibited by DIDS and dependent on extracellular HCO3(-)-CO2 and sodium. 5) pHi backregulation after an acid load occurred in both the presence and absence of extracellular bicarbonate but not in the absence of extracellular sodium. Our data are consistent with an electrogenic Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport in human ciliary muscle cells, which is activated by intracellular acidification.

P-glycoprotein regulates a volume-activated chloride current in bovine non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells

1. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to investigate the swelling-activated currents in bovine non-pigmented ciliary epithelial (NPCE) cells. 2. Exposure to hypotonic solution activated a current that was blocked by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB). The I-V relationship was shifted in the direction expected for a Cl- current when the external Cl- was replaced by gluconate (permeability ratio P(gluconate)/PCl = 0.17). The inhibition of the current evoked by voltage clamp steps of +80 mV yielded an IC50 for NPPB of 13.4 microM. 3. The current was found to be dependent on ATP. With ATP in the patch pipette the current could be repeatedly activated by exposure to hypotonic solution but when ATP was omitted the current ran down with time. 4. The development of this current was associated with visible cell swelling and inhibitors of regulatory volume decrease in these cells, e.g. tamoxifen, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), also inhibited this current. 5. The volume-activated current was additionally blocked by NPPB, verapamil, quinidine and dideoxyforskolin. 6. The current was independent of external calcium and exhibited slight outward rectification and time-dependent inactivation at strong depolarizing potentials. 7. Disrupting the cytoskeleton and microtubules with cytochalasin B and colchicine had no effect on the activation of the Cl- current. 8. An antibody (C219) to the MDR1 gene product, P-glycoprotein, caused a functional block of the swelling-activated Cl- current when added to the patch pipette. 9. Immunofluorescence studies using the monoclonal antibodies C219 and JSB-1 demonstrated the presence of P-glycoprotein in the ciliary epithelial cells. The immunofluorescence was stronger on the non-pigmented than on the pigmented cells. 10. It is concluded that swelling in NPCE cells activates a Ca(2+)-independent, ATP-dependent Cl- current and that the activity of this current is associated with P-glycoprotein. 11. It is suggested that this Cl- current contributes to regulatory volume decrease and may participate in the secretory activity of these cells.

The role of the posterior ciliary body in the biosynthesis of vitreous humour

Recently, several groups have published new information regarding the origins and structure of the vitreous humour, and the inner limiting lamina (ILL) of the retina. This short article provides an overview of this new information. It is proposed that vitreous proteins are derived from several different cell types with the posterior half of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium being prominent in the expression of several connective tissue macromolecules. In addition, some basement membrane macromolecules are also expressed by the ciliary body and may subsequently be assembled on the surface of the Müller cells to form the ILL. New data suggest that the posterior half of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium has substantial secretory activity and is likely to play a pivotal role in eye development.