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The authors investigated ultrastructural changes of the rabbit lens after experimentally induced chalcosis. From the results it may be concluded that the toxic actions of copper are mainly in the lenticular capsule and epithelium, although they are also apparent in the lenticular fibres.

By means of transmission electron microscopy in the chalcotic lens ultrastructural changes were probed which can be divided into specific and non-specific ones. Specific findings include proliferation of vacuoles in the cytoplasm, development of oedema of lenticular fibres and dilatation of intercellular spaces. For specific findings intercellular chalcosomes in the shape of copper crystals are typical. Copper crystals are dispersed also in the cytoplasm in formations lined by the membrane. Non-specific changes in the chalcotic lens can be classified as degenerative changes in the lenticular capsule, which is divided into segments.