Lens Flashcards
T/F: The cells near the surface of the lens may use both glycolytic and oxidative pathways to derive energy from glucose.
True
What protects the lens from oxidative damage?
Glutathione (provides most of the protection) Absorbic acid (also provides protection)
T/F: The lens gets much of its energy from glycolysis?
True
T/F: The deeper fiber cells have lower PH than peripheral fibers.
True
This is due to the end product of glycolysis–> Lactic acid–> lactic acid accumulation
What is the composition of the crystalline lens?
65% Water, 35% organic matter (33% protein)
What percent of the wet weight of lens fibers is crystallins?
Crystallins make up 40% of the wet weight of the lens fibers. (3X the amount in typical cell)
What contributes to the transparency of the lens?
Regular structure of the lens fibers
The absence of membrane-bound organelles
Small/uniform extra cellular space between fiber cells
What causes an increase in refractive index of the lens?
Higher concentration of crystallins and
the curvature of the surfaces
Name the 3 types of cataracts.
Nuclear cataracts
Cortical Cataracts
Posterior subcapsular cataracts
What kind of cells are present on the surface of the lens closest to the cornea?
Cuboidal epithelial cells.
T/F: the epithelial cells of the lens located in the germanitive zone near the equatorial undergo mitosis.
True
Which cells secrete the lens capsule?
Epithelial cells of the lens secrete the lens capsule. The lens capsule is basically just an elastic extracellular matrix.
T/F: Fiber cells stop elongating when they reach the sutures
True
What are sutures?
Junctions between the apical and basal ends of the cells from the opposite side of the lens
T/F: Newer fiber cells get buried deeper into the lens.
False! Mature fiber cells get buried deeper as fibers elongate and differentiate
T/F: the components of mature fiber cells must be much more stable than those in cells found in other parts of the body.
True
Where do zonules originate from?
zonules originate in the non-pigmented layer of the ciliary epithelium
T/F: In young individuals, refractive errors are rarely caused by the lens
True: in young people refractive errors are caused by corneal curvature or the
length of the globe-
and rarely by lens
T/F: With aging, the human lens absorbs more blue light/short wavelength light.
True! In young individuals the lens is colorless but as we age it gets more yellow bc it is absorbing more blue light.
What is Aphakia?
Aphakia is the absence of the natural crystalline lens, from natural causes or removal
What causes Congenital aphakia?
Rubella infection in first 4 weeks of pregnancy
What is Pseudophakia?
Pseudophakia is the substitution of the natural crystalline lens with a synthetic lens
What is betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase?
an enzyme that serves as a taxon-specific crystallin during the early development of the human lens.
What type of crystallins make up Classical crystallins?
Alpha, beta and gamma crystallins. (these are found in all vertebrae)
What is the role of αA and αB crystallins that are found in humans?
to prevent protein aggregation and precipitation
αB-crystallin is present in a variety of cells throughout the body, not just the lens
True. Such as in the heart and skeletal muscle.
T/F: 6 β- and 3 γ-crystallins are found in the lens
True
What percent of the lens is water?
65%
What is the function of microtubules in lens fibers?
Stabilizing the fiber cell membrane and
Transporting vesicles to the apical and basal ends of elongating fiber cells
Also gives lens its birefringent property
T/F: Lens fibers cell membranes are composed of high proportion of cholesterol and sphingomyelin
True