Experimental intraocular lens implantation in the rabbit eye and in the mouse peritoneal space. Part IV: Cell adhesion, fibroblast-like cell, and lymphocytic cluster observed on the implanted lens surface.

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy, Wolter's implant cytology staining, and an immunohistochemical method were used to investigate the process of cell adhesion, the origin of fibroblast-like cells, and the nature of lymphocytic clusters that were observed on intraocular lenses (IOLs) experimentally implanted in the rabbit eye and in the mouse peritoneal space. On the IOL implanted in the mouse peritoneal space, pseudopodia extended during cell adhesion showed morphological variety; on the IOL implanted in the rabbit eye, membranous extensions were seen. Many of the fibroblast-like cells exhibited positive staining for macrophagic antigen, indicating a macrophagic origin. The build-up of lymphocytic clusters, as an indicator of immunologic activity, was frequently observed on IOLs implanted in the mouse peritoneal space, particularly on silicone IOLs. However, such clusters were rarely seen on poly(methyl methacrylate) or silicone IOLs implanted in the rabbit eye, suggesting a much reduced immune response to those materials in the eye chamber.