同种晶状体抗原免疫致白内障兔的子代晶状体功能和形态学观察

Function and morphology study on lens offspring of cataract female rabbits induced by homogeneous lens antigen immunization

目的观察自身免疫性白内障(AIC)母兔所产子代晶状体生理功能和病理学的变化,初步探讨母兔体内针对晶状体组织抗原免疫反应是否可以造成子代的晶状体损伤。方法同种晶状体抗原(HL-Ags)持续免疫孕家兔,采用裂隙灯显微镜观察晶状体的混浊程度与密度,电脑验光仪测量母兔和子兔晶状体的调节力;并检测针对HL-Ags的血清特异性免疫反应;采用火棉胶切片和苏木精-伊红染色,光镜观察晶状体病理组织学改变。结果AIC母兔和非AIC母兔所产子兔中,部分(5/21,2/46)出现晶状体视觉功能损伤,并发现其血清中特异性抗体水平升高,晶状体上皮细胞(LECs)出现病理损伤。对照组母兔所产子代未见明显异常。结论经HL-Ags免疫孕兔,无论是否造成AIC,其所产子代中部分可出现白内障,其晶状体损伤和功能障碍极可能与针对晶状体组织的自身免疫反应有关。

Objective In previous researches, we found cataract-like discords in offspring rabbits delivered by female autoimmune cataract（AIC） animals. This experiment was designed to explore whether the autoimmune of anti-lens tissues acts as one of pathogenic causes of cataract on offspring of AIC female rabbits and non-AIC female rabbits with which the same immunization procedure is performed. Methods Twenty female rabbits were immunized with homogeneous lens antigens. Five females with lens opacity were as AIC models and their 21 offspring as AIC group. Nine female rabbits with transparent lens were as non-model animals and their 17 offspring as control group. Then, the lens accommodations were measured by the autorefractorimeter before and after the pupil-dilating, and the lens opacity were observed by slit-lamp examination. The tissue sections of lens were inspected using haematoxylin-eosin dyeing under the light microscope, and the special antibodies in serum were measured with ELISA test in both pregnant rabbits and their offspring. Results Five offspring of 21 pregnant AIC and 2 of 46 non-AIC rabbits appeared lens opacities. Pathological changes happened in lens sections, mainly showed the nucleate lens epithelial cell under the anterior and posterior capsule of lens,and the special antibodies against HL-Ag elevated in serum. There was no obvious abnormality was found in contrast pregnant rabbits and their offspring. Conclusion Some of AIC and non-AIC pregnant rabbits＇ offspring demonstrate certain degree of lens damage in both function and pathogenesis. This result suggests that the factor of autoimmune against lens tissue antigen may be one of pathogenic causes inducing non-heritage congenital cataract.