Effect of age on the morphology and optical quality of the avian crystalline lens

EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CATARACT IN CAPTIVE MACARONI (EUDYPTES CHRYSOLOPHUS) AND ROCKHOPPER PENGUINS (EUDYPTES CHRYSOCOME)

Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed on 160 Macaroni penguins ( Eudyptes chrysolophus ) and 90 Rockhopper penguins ( Eudyptes chrysocome ) at eight North American zoological institutions. Cataract prevalence in the Macaroni population was 46.5% (n = 74) of penguins and 42.3% (135/319) of eyes. Cataract prevalence in the Rockhopper population was 45.5% (n = 40) of penguins and 40.6% (73/180) of eyes. The mean age of Macaroni penguins without ocular disease was 7.4 ± 5.8 yr, while that of Rockhoppers was 9.8 ± 6.4 yr. Risk factors for cataract were examined through husbandry surveys completed by each institution and by evaluation of light intensity and ultraviolet (UV) light measurements acquired in each penguin exhibit. Risk factors associated with cataract in Macaroni penguins included age, dietary smelt, hand-feeding, and fluorescent exhibit lighting. Risk factors associated with cataract in Rockhopper penguins included age, dietary capelin, increasing population density, and increasing length of minimum photoperiod. Factors associated with decreased odds of cataract in Macaroni penguins included saltwater pool, monitoring of water quality for salinity, pH, and alkalinity; use of water additives; presence of pool filtration and sterilization systems; use of metal halide lightbulbs; increasing light intensity; and UV spectrum lighting. Factors associated with decreased odds of cataract in Rockhoppers included dietary herring and krill, increasing exhibit land area, pool temperature monitoring, increasing maximum photoperiod, and increasing minimum UV light.

Development and adult morphology of the eye lens in the zebrafish

The zebrafish has become an important vertebrate model organism to study the development of the visual system. Mutagenesis projects have resulted in the identification of hundreds of eye mutants. Analysis of the phenotypes of these mutants relies on in depth knowledge of the embryogenesis in wild-type animals. While the morphological events leading to the formation of the retina and its connections to the central nervous system have been described in great detail, the characterization of the development of the eye lens is still incomplete. In the present study, we provide a morphological description of embryonic and larval lens development as well as adult lens morphology in the zebrafish. Our analyses show that, in contrast to other vertebrate species, the zebrafish lens delaminates from the surface ectoderm as a solid cluster of cells. Detachment of the prospective lens from the surface ectoderm is facilitated by apoptosis. Primary fibre cell elongation occurs in a circular fashion resulting in an embryonic lens nucleus with concentric shells of fibres. After formation of a monolayer of lens epithelial cells, differentiation and elongation of secondary lens fibres result in a final lens morphology similar to that of other vertebrate species. As in other vertebrates, secondary fibre cell differentiation includes the programmed degradation of nuclei, the interconnection of adjacent fibres via protrusions at the fibre cells' edges and the establishment of gap junctions between lens fibre cells. The very close spacing of the nuclei of the differentiating secondary fibres in a narrow zone close to the equatorial epithelium, however, suggests that secondary fibre cell differentiation deviates from that described for mammalian or avian lenses. In summary, while there are similarities in the development and final morphology of the zebrafish lens with mammalian and avian lenses, there are also significant differences, suggesting caution when extrapolating findings on the zebrafish to, for example, human lens development or function.

The lens of the eye as a focusing device and its response to stress

The continued peripheral growth of the lens, resulting in the concentration of older tissue toward the center, has the important optical consequence of producing a lens of variable refractive index. An approach consisting of the projection of fine laser beams through excised lenses in physiological solution has been used for in vitro study of lens optical quality. By varying the separation of the incident beams and/or the wavelength characteristics of the laser used, lens refractive properties and relative transparency may be examined. In the review provided, these optical properties are correlated to lens suture anatomy, lens mitochondrial morphology and function and the function of lens heat shock proteins. In addition, lens spherical aberration is evaluated as a function of accommodation. This work can be highlighted as follows: Mammalian lens suture morphology has a direct impact on lens optical function and, while suture structure of mammalian and avian lenses are very different, they both show an age-related deterioration in morphology and focusing ability. The distribution and appearance of mitochondria of the lens epithelium and superficial fiber cells are similar in all vertebrates. Lens mitochondrial integrity is correlated to lens focusing ability, suggesting a correlation between lens optical properties and lens metabolic function. The induction of cold cataract measured optically in cultured mammalian lenses is enhanced by thermal (heat) shock and this effect is prevented by inhibiting heat shock protein production. Finally, lens accommodative function can be studied by measuring lens refractive change using a physiological model involving an intact accommodative apparatus.

Fibre cell organization in crystalline lenses

This review qualitatively and quantitatively compares the gross shape and size of lenses from different species as a function of their fibre cell organization. Grossly, all vertebrate lenses are asymmetrical, oblate spheroids with size and spheroidicity that varies considerably between species. Correlative LM and SEM analysis of the basic structural element of lenses, the fibre cell, shows that the average equatorial fibre width and thickness is relatively constant between most species. This indicates that inter-species differences in lens size is primarily a function of fibre number. Comparable analysis demonstrates that lens spheroidicity is due at least in part, to differences in the average anterior and posterior fibre end segment thickness in relation to that at the equator. In addition, the above analysis, supplemented by 3D-CAD reconstructions, illustrates how lifelong lens growth produces crescent fibres, that become arranged in age-related, concentric growth shells overlaid in slightly imprecise register. The reason for the non-exact registering of growth shells is that, while the vast majority of fibres are hexagonal in cross-section, a very small minority are pentagonal in cross-section and of inconstant width and thickness. Hexagonal and pentagonal fibres are required because the increase in the circumference of successive growth shells is frequently less than the widths of hexagonal fibres. Thus, lens growth is likely accomplished by a combination of the addition of successive growth shells containing more fibres, as well as by the addition of growth shells containing equal numbers of fibres that are incrementally wider as a function of radial location. Finally, SEM analysis, supplemented by 3D-CAD reconstructions, highlights the fact that the end-to-end arrangement of fibres within growth shells, the suture patterns, is not identical in all vertebrate lenses. This is important because lens optical quality is directly related to lens suture type and a negative influence of sutures on lens optical quality increases with age and as a result of some ocular surgeries (vitrectomy and trabeculectomy). These facts suggest that future research efforts should be directed at determining the factor or factors that influence or direct the differences in fibre shape, size and organization in branched and unbranched suture lenses.

Morphometric analysis of fibre cell growth in the developing chicken lens

The optical characteristics of any lens are determined by its internal composition, size and shape. In the lens of the eye, the macroscopic form of the tissue reflects the arrangement and behaviour of its component cells. In the current study, we quantified changes in the morphology and organization of chicken lens fibre cells during embryonic development. Lens radii, fibre cell length, shape, cross-sectional aspect ratio, cross-sectional area, cross-sectional perimeter, and cell packing organization were measured from confocal and transmission electron micrographs using computer assisted image analysis. Derived values for cell surface area and volume were also calculated. Because of the radial symmetry of the avian lens, we were able to employ a novel coordinate system to track the fate of identified cohorts of cells at successive developmental stages. This allowed kinetic information, such as the rate of increase in length or volume, to be derived. By sampling identified cell populations (i.e. those located at a specific point on the lens radius) at regular intervals it was possible, for the first time, to reconstruct the life history of fibre cells buried within the cellular conglomerate of the lens. The measurements indicated that a surprising degree of structural remodeling occurs during fibre cell elongation and continues after extant cells have been buried by waves of newly differentiated fibres. Even in the anucleated cells of the lens core, the size and surface topology of the cells were altered continually during development. However, some aspects of fibre cell organization were established early in development and did not vary thereafter. For example, the packing arrangement of cells in the adult lens was traced to a cellular template established on the tenth day of embryonic development.

A quantitative analysis of sutural contributions to variability in back vertex distance and transmittance in rabbit lenses as a function of development, growth, and age

PURPOSE

To correlate specific parameters of lens structure (anterior and posterior suture branch length and planar area) with variability in back vertex distance (BVD) and scatter in rabbit lenses as a function of development, growth, and age.

METHODS

Lenses from juvenile (n = 9), adult (n = 9), and aged (n = 10) New Zealand White rabbits were utilized in this study. After sacrifice, lens suture patterns were photographed using a stereo surgical dissecting microscope. Within 5 min of sacrifice, average BVD, variability in BVD, and scatter were assessed with a Scantox In Vitro Assay System. Laser beams were passed incrementally along anterior and posterior suture planes through right eye (oculus dexter, OD) lenses, and between suture planes through left eye (oculus sinister, OS) lenses. After fixation, lens axial dimensions and suture branch lengths were assessed and used to create scaled, 3-dimensional computer assisted drawings (3-D CADs) depicting gross lens shape and sutural changes throughout life.

RESULTS

Whereas average BVD only increased significantly as a function of growth, variability in BVD only increased significantly as a function of aging. However, anterior sutures exerted a greater influence on variability of BVD than posterior sutures throughout growth and aging. This difference is consistent with anterior suture branches being longer, or extending farther peripherally, than posterior sutures. Scatter was essentially unchanged between juvenile and adult lenses but significantly increased in aged lenses. Notably, posterior sutures effected a greater age-related increase in scatter than anterior sutures. This difference was consistent with the formation of numerous small, posterior subbranches and subplanes later in life. Structural analysis also suggested that asymmetric age-related lens compaction had occurred, predominantly affecting posterior lens dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Lens sutures significantly influence average BVD throughout development and growth, and variability in BVD throughout aging. In addition, even though the rabbit lenses appeared transparent throughout growth and aging, unequal length and area of anterior vs. posterior suture branches and planes respectively, as well as a greater degree of age-related posterior lens compaction, were factors contributing to increased scatter.