OXYSTEROLS FOUND IN OPACIFIED CORNEA OF FISH

We describe a new concept implicating oxidized cholesterol derivatives and very long-chain fatty acids as possible factors in the developmen t of corneal opacification after death. Corneal tissues, removed from both fresh and stale fish eyes, were examined for cholesterol derivati ves and fatty acids after methanolysis of lipids. Cholesta-3,5-dien-7- one, cholest-4-en-3-one, hexacosanoic acid, and hexacosenoic acid were identified via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in opacified corn eas, but not in significant amounts in fresh ones. The present study c onfirmed the presence of lipid hydrolysis and a peroxidation process i n the opacified cornea.