title: Superoxide dismutase activity in cataractous lenses.
abstract: The relationship between free oxygen radicals and cataract formation has been discussed. The behavior in lenses of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), which eliminates active oxygen, and glutathione (GSH), which has a defensive action against cataract, were investigated. SOD activity in human cataractous lenses and in porcine lenses was measured by electron spin resonance spectrometry. GSH was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. SOD and GSH significantly decreased in human lenses with senile cataracts as the cataracts advanced. The SOD and GSH values showed a positive correlation. The SOD activity in human lenses was localized dominantly in the lens epithelium and was also found in the shallow layer of the cortex. SOD activity appears to act as a barrier against photooxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kawasaki Hospital, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000201:enzymology*; D002417:Cattle; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione