Articles Concanavalin A-Induced Posterior Subcapsular Cataract
Articles Concanavalin A-Induced Posterior Subcapsular Cataract
Articles Concanavalin A-Induced Posterior Subcapsular Cataract
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<strong>Articles</strong><br />
<strong>Concanavalin</strong> A-<strong>Induced</strong> <strong>Posterior</strong> <strong>Subcapsular</strong> <strong>Cataract</strong>:<br />
A New Model of <strong>Cataract</strong>ogenesis<br />
Arlene Gwon,*~f Christine Mantras,* Lawrence Gruber* and Crystal Cunanan*<br />
Purpose. To evaluate the effect of <strong>Concanavalin</strong> A (Con A) on cataract formation in New<br />
Zealand Albino rabbits. Uveitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the eye involving the<br />
anterior and/or posterior segments. It may be acute or chronic and is associated with the<br />
development of posterior subscapular cataract over time. Con A is a nonspecific inflammatory<br />
agent and mitogen for T cells and some B cells. Used extensively in immunogenic studies Con<br />
A has been shown to induce uveitis after intravitreal injection in New Zealand Albino rabbits.<br />
Methods. In two separate studies, Con A was injected intracamerally or intravitreally into one<br />
eye of 12 New Zealand Albino rabbits and an equal volume of balanced salt solution was<br />
injected into the opposite eye as a control. In a third study, the effect of topical steroids after<br />
intravitreal injection of Con A was evaluated. In all studies, anterior and posterior inflammation<br />
and the development of cataract was monitored by slit lamp biomicroscopy and photography.<br />
<strong>Cataract</strong> formation was also studied histopathologically.<br />
Results. Initially, all eyes treated with Con A demonstrated moderate anterior chamber inflammation<br />
while eyes treated with balanced salt solution showed no inflammation. Three months<br />
after treatment, posterior subcapsular cataracts were present in all rabbit eyes treated with<br />
intravitreal Con A. In the third study, topical steroid treatment of Con A-induced inflammation<br />
significantly reduced anterior chamber inflammation but had no effect on vitreous humor<br />
and posterior subcapsular cataract formation.<br />
Conclusion. This experimental model was the first to demonstrate the development of posterior<br />
subcapsular cataracts after Con-A induced inflammation. The cataract was clinically and<br />
histologically similar to human posterior subscapular cataracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.<br />
1993; 34:3483-3488.<br />
IL osterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract is a type of presenile<br />
and senile opacification of the human lens occurring<br />
in 6% of adults between the ages of 43 and 84<br />
years in the Beaver Dam Eye Study. 1 It may be caused<br />
by a variety of conditions and toxins and has been<br />
referred to as "cataracta complicata." It is known to<br />
occur in inflammation, widespread degenerative<br />
states, and when ocular circulation is gravely impaired.<br />
Such cataracts are presumably due to abnormal lens<br />
metabolism and associated with diffusion into the lens<br />
From *Allergan Pharmaceuticals and the ^University of California at Irvine,<br />
Irvine, California.<br />
The results of this paper were presented in part at ARVO, 1992 in a poster titled<br />
"<strong>Concanavalin</strong> A-<strong>Induced</strong> <strong>Posterior</strong> <strong>Subcapsular</strong> <strong>Cataract</strong>: A New Model of<br />
<strong>Cataract</strong>ogenesis" (1758-35).<br />
Submitted for publication: December 11, 1992; accepted May 27, 1993.<br />
Proprietary interest category: E.<br />
Reprint requests: Arlene Gwon, Allergan Inc., 2525 Dupont Drive, P.O. Box<br />
19534, Irvine, CA 92713-9534.<br />
of toxins from an inflammatory focus, exogenous<br />
drugs or from products of degeneration caused by disease.<br />
The earliest clinical changes are typically seen in<br />
the central or axial region of the posterior lens and<br />
thus decreases vision early in its course. 23<br />
The lectin <strong>Concanavalin</strong> A (Con A) is a nonspecific<br />
inflammatory agent and mitogen for T cells and some<br />
B cells. It has been used extensively in immunogenic<br />
studies and shown to induce uveitis after intravitreal<br />
injection in New Zealand albino rabbits. 4 " 6 Because of<br />
the prolonged nature of the inflammatory response<br />
with Con A seen in animal studies, it was a good candidate<br />
for study of the development of complications,<br />
such as cataract formation in uveitis.<br />
In the current study, we investigated the role of<br />
Con A-induced inflammation in the formation of PSC<br />
cataracts. Intravitreal injection of Con A was associated<br />
with anterior and posterior uveitis and cataract<br />
formation, whereas intracameral injection was asso-<br />
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, December 1993, Vol. 34, No. 13<br />
Copyright © Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 3483
3484 Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, December 1993, Vol. 34, No. 13<br />
ciated with acute mild anterior uveitis and no cataract<br />
development. We also evaluated the role of topical<br />
corticosteroids in decreasing the Con A-induced inflammation<br />
and subsequent PSC cataract formation.<br />
Whereas anterior uveitis was significantly less in the<br />
steroid treated group, no difference was noted in the<br />
severity of posterior uveitis and the" development of<br />
PSC cataract.<br />
MATERIALS AND METHODS<br />
Intracameral Injections<br />
Topical anesthesia with 0.5% proparacaine solution<br />
(Allergan, Irvine, CA) was applied to both eyes of six<br />
juvenile female New Zealand Albino rabbits weighing<br />
2.5 to 3 kg. Approximately 1 ml Con A at 1 mg/ml<br />
(total dose of 100 ug) was injected into the anterior<br />
chamber of one eye of each rabbit and the contralateral<br />
eye received an equal volume of balanced salt solution<br />
(without prior paracentesis). After the injections,<br />
the animals received one drop each of 1 % tropicamide<br />
(Alcon, Humacao, Puerto Rico) and 0.3%<br />
gentamicin (Solo Pak, Franklin Park, IL), four times<br />
daily for 7 days.<br />
Intravitreal Injections<br />
Eighteen juvenile female New Zealand albino rabbits<br />
weighing approximately 2.5 to 3 kg were anesthetized<br />
with a 2 to 3 ml intramuscular injection of a 1:5 mixture<br />
of 100 mg/ml xylazine base (Haver, Shawnee, KS)<br />
and 50 mg/ml ketamine HC1 (Aveco, Fort Dodge, IA)<br />
combined with sterile water. The eyelashes were<br />
trimmed and the fur surrounding the eye was prepped<br />
with povidone iodine (Professional Disposables, Inc.,<br />
Orangeburg, NY). A lid speculum was inserted and<br />
intravitreal injections were placed at approximately 2<br />
to 3 mm posterior to the corneoscleral limbus in the<br />
superotemporal quadrant, using a 30-gauge needle.<br />
Group 1. Six rabbits received a 1 ml injection of<br />
Con A at 1 mg/ml (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO<br />
and ICN Biochemicals, Cleveland, Ohio), yielding a<br />
total dose of 100 /tg in one eye. The fellow eye received<br />
an injection of equal volume of balanced salt solution<br />
(Allergan Medical Optics, Irvine, CA).<br />
Group 2. Twelve rabbits received intravitreal Con<br />
A. Postoperatively, six of these rabbits received 1%<br />
Pred Forte (Allergan, Irvine, CA) four times daily in<br />
the test eye for 3 weeks.<br />
Postoperatively, all test eyes received 1% tropicamide<br />
(Alcon, Humacao, Puerto Rico) and 10% phenylepherine<br />
(Winthrop, New York, NY) four times daily<br />
to each eye for 2 weeks to maintain dilation.<br />
Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy/Photography<br />
All eyes were examined with slit lamp biomicroscopy at<br />
least biweekly for 1 month, weekly for 2 months, and<br />
monthly thereafter. Slit lamp photography was performed<br />
at months 2, 3, and 4. Biomicroscopy findings<br />
were graded on a scale from 0 to 4 with 0 = none, 1 =<br />
trace, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, and 4 = severe (Table<br />
1). Intergroup comparisons used the exact P value derived<br />
from the Wilcoxon Rank Test.<br />
Histopathology<br />
Rabbit eyes were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin.<br />
After washing the eyes in tap water, the globe was<br />
sectioned from the central cornea through the pupil to<br />
the optic nerve with the lens in situ. Tissue was processed<br />
in an automatic tissue processor overnight. The<br />
tissue was then dehydrated in reagent grade alcohol,<br />
cleared with xylene and infiltrated with paraffin. Paraffin-embedded<br />
tissues were sectioned at 5 nm and<br />
stained with hematoxylin and eosin.<br />
All animals were handled in accordance with<br />
USDA guidelines and the ARVO Resolution on the<br />
Use of Animals in Research.<br />
RESULTS<br />
Biomicroscopy<br />
Intracameral Injections. Four eyes that received balanced<br />
salt solution intracamerally had no evidence of<br />
irritation or inflammation at any time during the 6week<br />
observation period. Two eyes had minor irritation,<br />
which resolved by day 4 and remained clear<br />
through the 6-week observation period: one eye<br />
showed mild anterior chamber cells, which resolved by<br />
TABLE l. Anterior Chamber Inflammation<br />
Grading Scale<br />
Cells<br />
None<br />
Trace<br />
Mild<br />
Moderate<br />
Severe<br />
Flare<br />
None<br />
Trace<br />
Mild<br />
Moderate<br />
Severe<br />
0<br />
+ 1<br />
+2<br />
+3<br />
+4<br />
0<br />
+ 1<br />
+2<br />
+3<br />
+4<br />
No cells seen per high power field<br />
1-9 cells seen per high power field<br />
10-25 cells seen per high power field<br />
26-50 cells seen per high power field<br />
Too many cells to count per high<br />
power field<br />
No Tyndall effect<br />
Tyndall beam in the anterior chamber<br />
has mild intensity<br />
Tyndall beam in the anterior chamber<br />
has strong intensity<br />
Tyndall beam is very intense, aqueous<br />
has white, milky appearance<br />
Tyndall beam has marked intensity,<br />
fibrin fills anterior chamber and<br />
obscures view of the pupil
<strong>Posterior</strong> <strong>Subcapsular</strong> <strong>Cataract</strong> Model 3485<br />
day 4; one eye that had a slight iris nick during injection<br />
had some fibrin on the iris at 24 hours, which<br />
resolved by day 4. All eyes receiving intracameral injection<br />
of Con A had slight irritation and pupil miosis<br />
immediately after injection. At 24 hours, there was<br />
mild to moderate cells and fibrin in the anterior<br />
chamber. Two eyes also had moderate corneal edema<br />
and haze. These eyes were treated with 1% prednisolone<br />
acetate (Allergan, Irvine, CA), one drop four<br />
times a day for 5 days. By 1 week postinjection, all<br />
inflammatory signs had resolved and all eyes remained<br />
normal until the animals were killed at 6 weeks.<br />
Intravitreal Injections. Inflammation. At day<br />
one, all eyes receiving balanced salt solution were normal<br />
without evidence of inflammation in the anterior<br />
or posterior segment and remained normal throughout<br />
the 6-month observation period. All eyes that received<br />
Con A intravitreally had fibrin in the vitreous<br />
humor and a few had a preretinal hemorrhage on indirect<br />
ophthalmoscopy at day 1. The anterior segments<br />
of these eyes were normal (Table 2).<br />
By day 3, there was evidence of inflammation in all<br />
Con A-treated eyes with moderate cells and fibrin in<br />
the anterior chamber, on the anterior lens capsule and<br />
in the vitreous humor. Anterior segment inflammation<br />
gradually subsided by 4 to 7 days while posterior segment<br />
inflammation increased with moderate cells and<br />
fibrin noted in the vitreous and on the posterior surface<br />
of the posterior lens capsule.<br />
Inflammation persisted through day 9 in the steroid<br />
group and day 16 in the nonsteroid group. Anterior<br />
chamber cells were significantly less in the steroidtreated<br />
group at all times except days 3, 7, and 9 (Table<br />
2). Anterior chamber flare and fibrin was minimal<br />
in both groups throughout the evaluation period, and<br />
significantly less in the steroid group at day 9 only<br />
(Table 3). Vitreous cells were moderate in both groups<br />
TABLE 2.<br />
Anterior<br />
Days<br />
0<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
5<br />
7<br />
9<br />
13<br />
16<br />
23<br />
Intravitreal <strong>Concanavalin</strong> A:<br />
Chamber Cells<br />
Steroids<br />
(n = 6)<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.16 ±0.15<br />
0.8 ±0.15<br />
0.66 ±0.19<br />
0.3 ±0.19<br />
0.33 ± 0.3<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
No Steroids<br />
(n = 12)<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
1.41 ±0.31<br />
1.5 ±0.15<br />
1.58 ±0.14<br />
1.0 ±0.24<br />
1.16 ±0.24<br />
1.25 ±0.21<br />
1.41 ±0.14<br />
0.0<br />
P Value<br />
0.026<br />
0.317<br />
0.045<br />
0.705<br />
0.193<br />
0.045<br />
0.023<br />
Values are mean ± SE. Biomicroscopy findings are graded on a<br />
scale from 0 to 4; 0 = none, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate,<br />
and 4 = severe.<br />
TABLE 3. Intravitreal <strong>Concanavalin</strong> A:<br />
Anterior Chamber Flare/Fibrin<br />
Days<br />
0 1<br />
2 3<br />
5 7<br />
9<br />
13<br />
16<br />
23<br />
Steroids<br />
(n = 6)<br />
0.0<br />
0.5 ±0.2<br />
0.0<br />
0.16 ±0.15<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
No Steroids<br />
(n = 12)<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0.16 ±0.16<br />
0.33 ±0.14<br />
0.25 ±0.13<br />
0.16 ±0.11<br />
1.0 ±0.3<br />
0.0<br />
0.16 ±0.11<br />
0.0<br />
P Value<br />
0.317<br />
0.157<br />
0.317<br />
0.317<br />
0.014<br />
0.157<br />
Values are mean ± SE. Biomicroscopy findings are graded on a<br />
scale from 0 to 4; 0 = none, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate,<br />
and 4 = severe.<br />
and not significantly different (Table 4). After the seventh<br />
week it was difficult to evaluate vitreous inflammation<br />
because of the development of cataracts.<br />
<strong>Cataract</strong> development. The lenses of steroid and<br />
nonsteroid Con A groups remained clear until 2 weeks<br />
when a grainy, lacy pattern of cells and fibrin were<br />
noted on the posterior capsule surface (Fig. 1). As<br />
early as 5 weeks, vacuoles were noted in the posterior<br />
subcapsular lens area in 3 of 6 steroid treated eyes and<br />
11 of 12 nontreated eyes. By 7 weeks, a posterior subcapsular<br />
cataract was noted in 3 of 6 steroid eyes and<br />
all of the nontreated eyes.<br />
By 3 months postintravitreal Con A, PSC cataracts<br />
were present in all eyes and were granular/vacuolar in<br />
appearance (Fig. 2). In the six steroid-treated eyes, the<br />
PSC opacities were localized in the central optical axis<br />
TABLE 4. Intravitreal <strong>Concanavalin</strong> A:<br />
Vitreous Cells<br />
Days<br />
1<br />
2 Q<br />
O<br />
5<br />
7<br />
9<br />
13<br />
16<br />
23<br />
28<br />
W5<br />
W6<br />
W7<br />
Steroids<br />
(n = 6)<br />
0.0<br />
0.0<br />
0 16 + 015<br />
0.16 ±0.15<br />
2.0 ±0.33<br />
2.0 ±0.33<br />
2.33 ±0.19<br />
2.33 ±0.19<br />
2.5 ±0.2<br />
2.5 ±0.2<br />
2.16 ±0.15<br />
2.16 ±0.15<br />
2.0 ±0.24<br />
No Steroids<br />
(n = 12)<br />
0.0<br />
0.42 ±0.14<br />
o F.Q + n 14<br />
U.JO T" U.I i<br />
0.83 ± 0.24<br />
2.75 ±0.3<br />
3.0 ±0.12<br />
3.16 ±0.16<br />
2.66 ±0.14<br />
2.75 ±0.13<br />
2.66 ±0.21<br />
2.5 ±0.34<br />
2.33 ± 0.33<br />
2.0 ±0.25<br />
P Value<br />
0.083<br />
0.083<br />
0.102<br />
0.058<br />
0.033<br />
0.31<br />
>0.999<br />
0.0317<br />
>0.999<br />
0.563<br />
>0.999<br />
Values are mean ± SE. Biomicroscopy findings are graded on a<br />
scale from 0 to 4: 0 = none, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate,<br />
and 4 = severe.
3486 Investigative Ophthalmology 8c Visual Science, December 1993, Vol. 34, No. 13<br />
FIGURE 1. Slit lamp photograph. A lacy pattern of cells and<br />
fibrin is noted on the posterior surface of the lens in intravitreal<br />
Con A-treated eye at 2 weeks.<br />
or diffuse involving 20% to 40% (n = 3) or 80% to<br />
100% (n = 3) of the posterior circumference, respectively.<br />
In the 12 nonsteroid eyes, PSC opacity was localized<br />
in 5, diffuse in 3, and mixed with anterior and<br />
posterior cortical opacity in 4.<br />
By 16 weeks, four eyes, two in each group, had<br />
developed mature cortical and nuclear cataracts. In<br />
the remaining eyes, the PSC cataracts appeared stable<br />
and nonprogressive.<br />
No cataracts were noted in any of the balanced salt<br />
solution-treated eyes at any time.<br />
Histopathology<br />
At 2 weeks, the lens capsule and anterior epithelium<br />
appeared intact. Small vacuoles were seen in the epithelial<br />
layer that were probably related to a fixation<br />
artifact. Lens fibers appeared normal for the most<br />
FIGURE 2. Slit lamp photograph. A globular, edematous posterior<br />
subcapsular opacity is noted in intravitreal Con Atreated<br />
eye at 11 weeks.<br />
FIGURE 3. Photomicrograph of intravitreal Con A-treated<br />
eye at 14 months. A monolayer of epithelial cells lines the<br />
anterior capsule. Incomplete cell differentiation is noted in<br />
the equator with nuclei displaced toward the posterior lens.<br />
(Bar = 5 //.)<br />
part, staining more deeply in the nuclear region and<br />
paler in the cortical area. There was an occasional separation<br />
of the cortical fibers from the posterior capsule.<br />
Adjacent cortical fibers appeared foamy or swollen<br />
and separation between fibers was somewhat prominent.<br />
Occasional vacuoles were seen. The lens nucleus<br />
appeared normal and cell differentiation in the equatorial<br />
region appeared unremarkable. The vitreous humor<br />
contained numerous inflammatory cells and fibrin<br />
strands.<br />
At 3 months, the lens capsule appeared intact. A<br />
semicontinuous monolayer of epithelium extended<br />
FIGURE 4. Photomicrograph of intravitreal Con A-treated<br />
eye at 3 months. A multilayer of large, rounded bladder-type<br />
cells of Wedl is seen on the posterior capsule. Adjacent cortical<br />
fibers are swollen or globular and there is loss of normal<br />
architecture in the posterior cortex. Multiple inflammatory<br />
cells and a fibrovascular membrane are noted in the vitreous<br />
humor. (Bar = 5 M-)
<strong>Posterior</strong> <strong>Subcapsular</strong> <strong>Cataract</strong> Model 3487<br />
along both the anterior and posterior capsule with loss<br />
of the equatorial bow region. Lens epithelial cell differentiation<br />
was incomplete with nuclei displaced toward<br />
the posterior lens (Fig. 3). The anterior epithelial<br />
layer contained vacuoles and there were some areas of<br />
cell loss. Cells along the posterior capsule were larger<br />
and more rounded in appearance, the so-called "bladder"<br />
cells of Wedl. Adjacent cortical fibers were swollen<br />
or globular (Fig. 4). In other areas, there was loss<br />
of architecture and the cortex was amorphous with an<br />
occasional cell nucleus noted in the more central cortical<br />
regions. The vitreous humor contained numerous<br />
inflammatory cells and a fibrovascular membrane. Similar<br />
changes were noted in the micrographs examined<br />
at 4, 5, and 14 months.<br />
DISCUSSION<br />
<strong>Posterior</strong> subcapsular cataracts can occur spontaneously<br />
in the aging Wistar rat, 7 can occur after the intravitreal<br />
injection of docosahexenoic acid 8 and bacterial<br />
endotoxin 9 and can occur after microwave and<br />
ionizing radiation exposure. 911 In the current studies,<br />
we describe the occurrence of PSC cataracts after Con<br />
A-induced inflammation.<br />
We have shown that intravitreal injection of the<br />
lectin Con A will induce chronic inflammation followed<br />
by development of posterior subcapsular cataract<br />
in New Zealand Albino rabbits. The prolonged<br />
Con A-induced inflammation does not occur when the<br />
compound is injected intracamerally. Although slight<br />
inflammation did occur for a few days after intracameral<br />
injection, chronic inflammation and cataract<br />
formation was not noted. It is possible that the injected<br />
Con A was washed out through the trabecular<br />
meshwork too rapidly to induce a chronic inflammation<br />
and cataract. In contrast, intravitreal injection of<br />
Con A induced a chronic anterior and posterior uveitis<br />
with exacerbations and remissions for up to 2 months.<br />
The inflammation is similar to some types of human<br />
uveitis in its clinical course of exacerbations and remissions,<br />
inflammatory signs of keratoprecipitates, anterior<br />
chamber cells, posterior synechiae formation,<br />
vitreous cells, and cataract formation.<br />
Treatment with topical corticosteroids resulted in<br />
less severe anterior uveitis but had minimal effect on<br />
the posterior uveitis. PSC cataract formation appeared<br />
to be less severe in the steroid group but differences<br />
were small and further studies are needed for<br />
verification. In humans, both uveitis and steroid therapy<br />
are known to induce PSC cataract independently,<br />
so it would be of interest to learn if higher doses of<br />
steroid had an inhibitory effect in this model.<br />
The clinical and morphologic changes in PSC cataract<br />
in humans and radiation-induced PSC in mice,<br />
rats, and the bullfrog have been well described."" 17<br />
Clinically, the posterior subcapsular cataract seen at 3<br />
months after intravitreal injection was similar in clinical<br />
appearance to the vacuolar or lacy type of cataract<br />
described by Eshagian. 2 These cataracts are granular<br />
and appear to be made of multiple watery cysts. They<br />
are seen in senile or age-related, diabetic, retinitis pigmentosa,<br />
and corticosteroid cataracts. 2<br />
The Con A-inflammatory PSC cataract is histologically<br />
similar to that reported in humans 212 " 14 and in<br />
radiation-induced PSC cataract in animals. 1115 " 17 Cell<br />
differentiation in the equatorial region is incomplete<br />
with displacement of the lens bow nuclei toward the<br />
posterior lens pole. Cortical fibers appear irregular in<br />
size and shape. There is migration of cells along the<br />
posterior capsule. These posterior cells are swollen,<br />
"bladder" type cells of Wedl and there is swelling in<br />
the adjacent cortical fibers, with areas of liquefaction<br />
and loss of fiber architecture.<br />
It is also noteworthy the Con A-induced inflammation<br />
remained relatively inactive after 2 months and<br />
the posterior subcapsular cataract progressed very little<br />
from 3 to 14 months in most cases. These results<br />
can be interpreted several ways: the cataract progression<br />
may be dependent on an active inflammatory stimulus;<br />
cataract progression may require the continued<br />
presence of Con A; or the Con A is somehow removed<br />
or inactivated over time. In addition to being a nonspecific<br />
inflammatory agent and a mitogen for T cells,<br />
Con A is widely used as a probe for studying cell-surface<br />
oligosaccharides. 1819 Suzuki et al demonstrated<br />
the binding of Con A to the lens epithelial cells and<br />
lens fibers with nuclei. It is possible that one cause of<br />
the cataract formation in this model is disruption of<br />
cell-cell contacts by the binding of the Con A to the<br />
N-acetyl-glucosamine residues in the cell membranes.<br />
This aberrant binding could lead to cataract formation<br />
early on, but with time the cells may internalize the<br />
Con A, effectively returning the cell surface to its original<br />
state, and thus halting the progression of the cataract.<br />
Whether Con A is binding to the N-acetyl-glucosamine<br />
residues in this model has not been determined.<br />
Nor does there exist any literature describing the use<br />
of lectins such as Con A to alter cell-cell contacts in<br />
any animal model. Finally, there have been no studies<br />
of cell membrane cycling of bound lectin molecules,<br />
although such a precedence exists for growth factor<br />
receptors. Further studies are needed to discern<br />
among these possible mechanisms of action in the formation<br />
of Con A-induced cataractogenesis.<br />
In summary, we have developed a model of Con<br />
A-induced inflammatory posterior subcapsular cataract<br />
that has many characteristics desirable in a model,<br />
including a cataract development rate that would al-
3488 Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, December 1993, Vol. 34, No. 13<br />
low this to be a good assay system for drugs and other<br />
factors affecting cataractogenesis.<br />
Key Words<br />
lens opacity/cataract, <strong>Concanavalin</strong> A, posterior subcapsular<br />
cataract, steroids<br />
Acknowledgments<br />
The authors thank John Conlon, PhD, for statistical assistance.<br />
References<br />
1. Klein BEK, Klein R, Linton K. Prevalence of age-related<br />
lens opacities in a population: the Beaver Darn<br />
Eye Study. Ophthalmology 1992;99:546-552.<br />
2. Eshagian J. Human <strong>Posterior</strong> <strong>Subcapsular</strong> <strong>Cataract</strong>s.<br />
Trans Ophthal Soc UK. 1982; 102:364-368.<br />
3. Luntz MH. Clinical types of cataract. In: Datiles MB,<br />
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