The significance of ascorbate in the aqueous humour protection against UV-A and UV-B.
It has previously been suggested that the aqueous humour acts as a UV-filter protecting the structures behind. This hypothesis has here been further evaluated by use of spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry. Principally three different aspects of the protecting mechanism have been unveiled: absorption, fluorescence quenching and wavelength transformation. The extremely high ascorbate values obviously play a key role in all of them. Thus, aqueous ascorbate both increased absorption and suppressed fluorescence of radiation below roughly 310 nm wavelength. In addition, as a consequence of ascorbate quenching, fluorescence emission to the UV-A range (320-400 nm) is substantially reduced.
Ringvold
A
A
University Eye Department, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D001205:Ascorbic Acid