MODELING CORTICAL CATARACTOGENESIS .16. LEAKAGE OF LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE - A NEW METHOD FOR FOLLOWING CATARACT DEVELOPMENT IN CULTURED LENSES

The in vitro effect of glucose on cultured rat lenses was correlated w ith (i) the time-dependent leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into defined medium; (ii) the appearance of the lens under the dissection microscope; and (iii) the leakage of lens cytosolic proteins. A protec tive effect of 1 mM Vitamin C (VC) was also found:the extent of opacif ication, LDH and gamma-crystallin release were reduced if 1 mM VC was included in the medium. Using the above parameters provides a new and more rapid technique to follow lens opacification in vitro.