title: Some biochemical changes in lenses of riboflavin deficient rats.
abstract: In order to better understand the role of riboflavin in the lens, we investigated the lenses of rats fed on a riboflavin deficient diet for 7 weeks to determine changes in the inactivation of cortisol, the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity and the histidine or 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase activity. The cortisol-binding capacity and G-6-PD activity in the lenses of rats fed on a riboflavin deficient diet were found to be decreased as compared with a control. Histidine decarboxylase activity was found twice as high in the riboflavin deficient rats as in the normal lenses however, 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase was somewhat decreased. These findings show that catabolical changes in the metabolism of rat lenses are induced comprehensively by feeding on a riboflavin deficient diet in the same manner as changes are seen in the cataractous lens.
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D012257:Riboflavin Deficiency / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase; D006854:Hydrocortisone