[Regulation of glutathione level in venous plasma and aqueous humor in cataracta senilis provecta].
Glutathione is a major component of the mechanisms protecting the eye against oxidants. To analyse the functional status and the regulation of the glutathione system in the eyes of patients with advanced cataract, glutathione concentrations were quantified in venous plasma and aqueous humor.


METHODS
In all, 42 patients with advanced cataract (29 women, 13 men; mean age (+/- SEM) 70 +/- 2 years; vision < or = 0.3) were evaluated. Aqueous humour and venous plasma were obtained at the beginning of cataract surgery.


RESULTS
Levels of total glutathione [reduced (GSH) + oxidized glutathione (GSSG)] in plasma were 2.34 +/- 0.23 microM. There was 2.08 +/- 0.15 microM in the reduced form and 0.27 +/- 0.17 microM oxidized glutathione, which means that 94.7 +/- 2.1% of the total glutathione was GSH, the form fully functional as an antioxidant. Levels of total glutathione in the aqueous humor were 1.2 +/- 0.16 microM, i.e. 54.5 +/- 4.8% of plasma levels. Surprisingly, the percentage of GSSG in aqueous humor (0.24 +/- 0.07 microM, 31 +/- 10.5% of the total glutathione) was much higher than that in plasma (P < 0.001). The correlation between glutathione concentrations in plasma and aqueous humor was on the borderline of significance (rs = 0.32, P < 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of oxidized glutathione is higher in aqueous humor than in plasma of patients with advanced senile cataracts, indicating increased oxidant stress in the eye. Further, the regulation of the glutathione system in the eye, at least in aqueous humor, is dependent on plasma glutathione levels. This correlation reflects the importance of sufficient glutathione levels in venous plasma and suggests the possibility of modulating the glutathione system in the eye via manipulation of plasma glutathione levels.
Stahl
E
E
Zentrum der Augenheilkunde, Universität Frankfurt/Main.
Buhl
R
R
Schnaudigel
O
O
Steinkamp
G
G
Fries
U
U
Gümbel
H
H
Ohrloff
C
C
D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000502:physiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
D005978:Glutathione