title: Spectral transmission of the pig lens: effect of ultraviolet A+B radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the spectral transmission curve of the crystalline lens of the pig. To analyse how this curve changes when the crystalline lens is irradiated with ultraviolet A+B radiation similar to that of the sun. To compare these results with literature data from the human crystalline lens.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used crystalline lenses of the common pig from a slaughterhouse, i.e. genetically similar pigs, fed with the same diet, and slaughtered at six months old. Spectral transmission was measured with a Perkin-Elmer Lambda 35 UV/VIS spectrometer. The lenses were irradiated using an Asahi Spectra Lax-C100 ultraviolet source, which made it possible to select the spectral emission band as well as the intensity and exposure time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pig lens transmits all the visible spectrum (95%) and lets part of the ultraviolet A through (15%). Exposure to acute UV (A+B) irradiation causes a decrease in its transmission as the intensity or exposure time increases: this decrease is considerable in the UV region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We were able to determine the mean spectral transmission curve of the pig lens. It appears to be similar to that of the human lens in the visible spectrum, but different in the ultraviolet. Pig lens transmission is reduced by UV (A+B) irradiation and its transmission in the UV region can even disappear as the intensity or exposure time increases. An adequate exposure intensity and time of UV (A+B) radiation always causes an anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC).
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Avda Seminario s/n, 46113 Moncada (Valencia), Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Artigas
authors.affiliation: Fisabio Oftalmología Médica (FOM), Bifurcación Pío Baroja-General Avilés, s/n, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navea
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Avda Seminario s/n, 46113 Moncada (Valencia), Spain.
authors.forename: M-M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: López-Murcia
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Óptica, Facultad de Física, Universidad de valencia, C/Dr Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot (Valencia), Spain; Fisabio Oftalmología Médica (FOM), Bifurcación Pío Baroja-General Avilés, s/n, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felipe
authors.affiliation: Fisabio Oftalmología Médica (FOM), Bifurcación Pío Baroja-General Avilés, s/n, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desco
authors.affiliation: Fisabio Oftalmología Médica (FOM), Bifurcación Pío Baroja-General Avilés, s/n, 46015 Valencia, Spain; Departamento de Óptica, Facultad de Física, Universidad de valencia, C/Dr Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot (Valencia), Spain. Electronic address: Jose.Artigas@uv.es.
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Artigas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013552:Swine; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Cristallin de porc; Lens transmission; Pig lens; Rayonnement ultraviolet; Spectral transmission; Transmission du cristallin; Transmission spectrale; Ultraviolet radiation