PHASE-SEPARATION INHIBITORS AND LENS TRANSPARENCY

A phase separation inhibitor, WR77913 [S-3(amino-2-hydroxypropyl) phos phorothioate], was tested for its effects on lens opacification in the radiation (RAD), selenite (SEL), galactose (GAL), streptozotocin (STZ ), and Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) models for cataract. A single i .p. injection of WR77913, approximately 15 min before induction of cat aract formation by RAD, SEL, STZ delayed or inhibited opacification. R epeated administration was necessary to delay or inhibit opacification in the GAL or RCS models for cataracts. The results suggest that phas e separation inhibitors such as WR77913 have the potential to delay or inhibit lens opacification resulting from a variety of physiological or biochemical mechanisms.