Age-related changes in the morphology, absorption and fluorescence of melanosomes and lipofuscin granules of the retinal pigment epithelium. 1990

M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, U.K.

The morphological and spectral characteristics of purified populations of melanosomes and lipofuscin granules from the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were studied with respect to donor age. All melanosome and lipofuscin fractions exhibited the typical ultrastructural appearance associated with these granules. Absorption profiles of both melanin and lipofuscin granules demonstrated an increased optical density of the granules with increasing age. The former was associated with an overall increase of melanin within the granules. Melanosomes were weakly fluorescent; emission in the blue decreased with increasing age while emission in the red increased. The fluorescent intensity of lipofuscin granules increased with age. These results provide support for the concept that melanogenesis is occurring within the human RPE throughout life and that pigment granules within the RPE undergo age-related modifications during life.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008062 Lipofuscin A naturally occurring lipid pigment with histochemical characteristics similar to ceroid. It accumulates in various normal tissues and apparently increases in quantity with age.
D008543 Melanins Insoluble polymers of TYROSINE derivatives found in and causing darkness in skin (SKIN PIGMENTATION), hair, and feathers providing protection against SUNBURN induced by SUNLIGHT. CAROTENES contribute yellow and red coloration. Allomelanins,Melanin,Phaeomelanins
D008544 Melanocytes Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES. Melanocyte
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010857 Pigment Epithelium of Eye The layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA; the CILIARY BODY; and the IRIS in the eye. Eye Pigment Epithelium
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003594 Cytoplasmic Granules Condensed areas of cellular material that may be bounded by a membrane. Cytoplasmic Granule,Granule, Cytoplasmic,Granules, Cytoplasmic
D005333 Fetus The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal

Related Publications

M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
January 2006, Photochemistry and photobiology,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
January 1999, Biofizika,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
August 2022, Biophysical reviews,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
July 2020, Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
July 2008, Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
January 2012, PloS one,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
March 2024, International journal of molecular sciences,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
December 1980, American journal of ophthalmology,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
July 2021, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science,
M Boulton, and F Docchio, and P Dayhaw-Barker, and R Ramponi, and R Cubeddu
June 2008, Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.),
Copied contents to your clipboard!