Experimental Study On The Effects Of Seawater On Function And Morphology In Lens Of Rabbits

OBJECT: To investigate the changes of function and morphology, and inquire into the mechanism of injury in lens of rabbits with seawater injected into anterior chambers.METHODS: 50 rabbits selected randomly from 55 were made animal models with 0.2ml seawater injected into right anterior chambers. At 15 min ,30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h ,12h after wounding, the eye balls were enucleated respectively after examination with slitlamp microscope to observe the pathological changes under the light microscope, explore the ultramicroscopic structure alteration under the electron microscope and examine the activity of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase, SDH, LDH, SOD and GSH-PX in lens by biochemistry method. Same processes were done as the right eyes in the left eyes except that 0.2ml BSS were injected into their anterior chambers, in addition, 5 rabbits exposed to none factor were defined as normal group.RESULTS:1.The lens in the seawater group were apparently opaque under slitlamp microscope at first, then the opaque lens gradually developed transparency after 6 hours. 2. Under the LM, the cells of lens in seawater group occurred edema, degeneration, evennecrosis and Morgagnian globules formation. In control group, the cells of the lens were edema slightly, no obvious Morgagnian globules were observed. 3.Under the EM, mitochondria, endoplastic reticula and Golgi's complexes appeared swelling and hollowed in seawater group. The plasma cellular organs of control group swelled mildly. 4. The activity of Na\ K+-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase in lens decreased significantly at first , then increased and recovered partly or completely at last, the changing trend of SHD and LDH activity was increased due to the compensation in 6 hours and recovered completely at 12 hour after wounding , the activity of SOD and GSH-PX was higher than control group and normal group throughout the whole experiment. 5. No significant difference of the activity of all kinds of enzyme in lens was found between control group and normal group in the most of the experimental time.CONCLUSION: 1.The activity of many kinds of enzyme in rabbit lens were damaged in deferent degree with seawater injected into anterior chamber, including Na*-lO-ATPase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, SDH, LDH, SOD , GSH-PX etc., cells of lens in seawater group occurred edema, degeneration, even necrosis and Morgagnian globules formation gradually. 2. The characteristics of injury in lens were earlier and severe in seawater group than in control group.3.With early management by suturing the wounded and recovering the normal physiology condition in time, the opaque lenses could change transparency gradually. 4. Owing to the limit of the experimental condition, our experiment was taken under the fixed temperaturewithout considering the influence of temperature and bacterial in seawater on wounding, so the characteristics of injury in lens under the real situation should be more complex and more severe.