AGING AFFECTS THE CONFORMATION OF CHOLESTEROL IN THE HUMAN EYE LENS

The distribution of 3-beta-OH-cholesterol along the optical axis of 20 human eye lenses of different ages was measured using confocal Raman microspectroscopy in combination with the 3-beta-hydroxysteroid-specif ic probe filipin. This non-destructive technique allows a spatially ve ry detailed study of the distribution of 3-beta-OH-cholesterol in indi vidual lenses. It revealed age-related changes of the 3-beta-OH-choles terol distribution along the optical axis. The 3-beta-OH-cholesterol w as found to be distributed asymmetrically along the optical axis and t his distribution was found to change with age. The relative 3-beta-OH- cholesterol content in the anterior part of the lens decreases signifi cantly with increasing age compared with its equal posterior counterpa rt. Additionally all the lenses have a very low 3-beta-OH-cholesterol content in the central part of their nuclear region, the area where th e primary lens fibres are located.