Lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase deficiency. Light and electron microscopic finding from two corneas

Two brothers with LCAT deficiency are reported. Corneal specimens were studied from both patients by electron and light microscopy. The electron microscopy revealed numerous vacuoles in both Bowman's layer and anterior stroma with some having electron dense material within the vacuoles. Conventional strains including frozen sections for lipid with light microscopy failed to reveal these vacuoles or any pathology. The composition of the contents of the vacuoles remains unsolved.

Anterior subcapsular cataract. An electron microscopic study

Electron microscopic findings from a case of anterior subcapsular cataract are presented. It is suggested that the epithelial cells increase in activity, form fibrillae and multiple layers of basement membrane, and these make up the anterior plaque. The same activity, to a lesser degree, is present under the posterior capsule. This abnormal function of forming fibrillae and basement membrane along with increased ribosomal activity may be called pseudometaplasia.

Labrador keratopathy: clinical and pathological findings

The clinical and pathological features of Labrador keratopathy are described. Some indication is given of the frequency of the condition in Northern Newfoundland and Labrador. The histopathology, based on light and electron microscopy of five specimens, is illustrated. The findings support an origin for the globular deposits in the stroma and Bowman's layer rather than the epithelium.

Studies on the metabolism of nuclear basic proteins after radiation in vitro

Exposure of isolated rabbit lymphocytes to 1000 R γ-radiation results in an increased rate of incorporation of amino acids-14C into cellular proteins during the first hour after irradiation. Fractionation of the proteins showed that the synthesis of basic proteins extracted from the nucleus was most affected. Two factors contributed to this apparent stimulation of protein synthesis by irradiation: (a) a transient increase in the amount of amino acid-14C available for protein synthesis in the cell; and (b) an increase in concentration of sodium ions in the cell. It is suggested that much of the observed increase in amino acid incorporation after irradiation of the lymphocytes is caused by radiation-induced changes in cell permeability.