ON THE FORMATION OF ELSCHNIG'S PEARLS A TISSUE CULTURE STUDY OF REGENERATING RAT LENS EPITHELIUM

Abstract

Rats lens epithelial cells were allowed to regenerate on the lens capsule in tissue cultured. The major part of the lens fibers had been removed. After a month spherical bodies appeared, similar in appearance to Elschnig's pearls. Electron microscopical examination revealed that these spheres consisted of large extracellular vacuoles, and phase contrast examination revealed a continuous change in appearance of these spheres. The mechanism behind the tendency to form extracellular vacuoles probably include an increased extrusion of sodium and water from osmotically stressed lens cells.