LEVELS OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE MESSENGER-RNA IN RAT LENS - EFFECT OF AGING

Superoxide dismutase, the enzyme catalyzing the dismutation of O-2 .(- ) to H2O2 is known to be present in various ocular and nonocular tissu es. In this communication we have determined the gene expression of th is enzyme in rat lenses. The investigations have been conducted as a f unction of age using RNase protection assay. These in vitro assays for the corresponding mRNA suggested that the transcription of the gene i s age variant, increasing as a function of age. The levels were signif icantly lower in the young lenses in comparison to the older lenses.