Figure 3. Suppression of TGFβ-induced
cataractous changes in lens epithelial explants by GSH and catalase:
phase contrast microscopy. A-C: Precultured explants were
cultured for two days in the control medium (A) or with 75 pg/ml
TGFβ2 in the absence (B) or presence (C) of 10 mM GSH and
then photographed. In controls (A), the epithelial cells were
present in the cobblestone array, typical of the normal lens
epithelium. Explants cultured only with TGFβ (B) exhibited
extensive wrinkling of the lens capsule (arrows) and loss of cells,
leaving regions of the capsule exposed (asterisks). Many cells showed
dark stippling indicative of blebbing of the cellular surface
(arrowheads). Including GSH with TGFβ (C) suppressed these
TGFβ-induced changes, resulting in slight wrinkling only (arrows). D,E:
Explants were cultured for two days with 75 pg/ml TGFβ2 in the absence (D)
or presence (E) of catalase at a concentration of 300 units/ml.
Explants cultured with TGFβ alone were extensively wrinkled (D)
whereas explants cultured with TGFβ and catalase retained normal
cobblestone morphology (E). The scale bar represents 180 μm (A-E).
Con, control; GSH, glutathione; Cat, catalase.