An electron microscopic study of early reversible hydroxyurea cataracts in vitro.

The crystalline lenses of male white Wistar rats weighing 100 gr. were cultured in a culture fluid containing 5 X 10(-2) M hydroxyurea. The epithelial cells forming multiple layers in the equatorial region on the 4th day of incubation and swollen epithelial cells were studied by electron microscopy and the results are summarized as follows; The epithelial cells forming multiple layers retained a desmosome-like structure near the apical region. It was assumed that these cells preserve their epithelial properties. The cellular morphology and subcellular organela had the characteristics of epithelial cells. The scarcity of microtubules in the epithelial multiple layers was interpreted as reduced capacity of these cells for elongation.