Experimental study of phagocytosis of the cells observed on the surface of intraocular lens
Saika, S.; Tamura, M.; Nakao, T.; Kanagawa, R.; Uenoyama, K.; Hiraoka, J.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 93(11): 1068-1074
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0203 PMID: 2690603 Document Number: 327391
It has been reported that macrophages adhere to implanted intraocular lens (IOL) in a reaction to the foreign body, and transform themselves into epithelioid cells, fibroblast-like cells, and foreign body giant cells. We attempted to examine the activity of these cells by studying phagocytosis. Extracapsular lens extractions with implantation of posterior chamber IOLs were performed in rabbit eyes. After one week, the implants were removed and incubated in culture medium containing latex beads to investigate phagocytosis of these cells adhering to the implants by light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The cells observed were macrophages, epithelioid cells, fibroblast-like cells, and foreign body giant cells. The round macrophage was most active in phagocytizing latex beads, while the activity was weaker in the epithelioid cells, fibroblast-like cells, and foreign body giant cells. The macrophages on the implants had many ruffles on their surface, and many latex beads adhered to the cell surface. The epithelioid cells and foreign body giant cells had few ruffles with few latex beads on their surface. These results suggested that cellular activity of the macrophages on the implanted IOL might decrease as their shape transformed.