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ARTICLES
Year : 1983  |  Volume : 31  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 262-264

Electrolyte pattern in normal goat lenses and its alteration in lens culture during cataractogenesis


1 Department of Pharmacology, Dr. V. M. Medical College, Solapur, India
2 Kankubai Eye Hospital, Solapur, India

Correspondence Address:
A G Chandorkar
Department of Pharmacology, Dr. V. M. Medical College, Solapur-413 003
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


PMID: 6676233

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How to cite this article:
Chandorkar A G, Albal M V, Bulakh P M, Gumaste V V. Electrolyte pattern in normal goat lenses and its alteration in lens culture during cataractogenesis. Indian J Ophthalmol 1983;31:262-4

How to cite this URL:
Chandorkar A G, Albal M V, Bulakh P M, Gumaste V V. Electrolyte pattern in normal goat lenses and its alteration in lens culture during cataractogenesis. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1983 [cited 2024 Mar 29];31:262-4. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1983/31/3/262/29806

Table 1

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Though electrolyte composition of human lenses and of animals like cows and rats is known, the data for goat lenses is not available. Hence the present work was undertaken to establish the electrolyte pattern in goat lenses. Further, its alteration in lens culture and in early and late cataractous stages in isolated lens organ culture, was also studied with the hope that the eventual changes in the cations and chloride contents in lens undergoing cataractous process could be indicative of failure of mechanisms which regulate lens volume and hydration.


  Material and Methods Top


Fresh goat lenses removed with cataract knife by intracapsular lens extraction method from the eye balls obtained frorn the slaughter house were weighed immediately and ground in chilled 10 % Trichloracetic Acid (TCA). After centrifugation the supernatant fluid was retained and used for electrolyte estimation.

To study cataractogenesis isolated lens culture method of Haddad et all was used. Lenses after weigh­ing were placed in sterile tissue culture dish and main­tained in a saline solution isotonic with aqueous' and pH was carefully maintained at 7.2. Room temperature varied between 27 to 29°sub C. Saline was changed at fixed intervals. Lenses were observed for development of generalized haziness or opacities, intumescence, disrup­tion and weight gain. Experiments were terminated after 24 hours and 72 hours and the lenses were used for electrolyte estimations.

Sodium and Potassium were estimated by flame photometer, while chlorides were estimated by the titration method using Diphenyl Carbazole indicator and the results compared with those obtained with solution of known CL - ion concentration in the 10 (TCA). Magnesium was estimated by colorimetric method, using titan yellow indicator and calcium by titration method using calcium tymophthelein as an indicator, as described by Varley.[3]


  Observations Top


The normal goat lenses were absolutely transparent and weighed between 400 to 600 mg. No morphological change was observed in these lenses upto 18 hours when maintained in lens culture. Early cataractous change with partial loss cf transparency and generalised haziness, intumescence with a weight gain of 0.25 to 0.5 g. was seen at the end of 24 hours. While complete opacity, intumescence or swelling with a weight gain of 0.5 to 1.0 g. and begining of disruption of lens membrane fibres. was seen at the end of 72 to 96 hours.

Mean electrolyte values for normal goat lenses estimated were Sodium 147 + 15.7, Potassium 130 + 11.30 and Chlorides 5.1 + 0.6, MEQ/Kg/Lens/ Wt; and of Calcium 5.0 + 0.55 and Magnesium 2.8 + 0.23 nmg %. A significant alteration in these ionic concentra­tions was seen at the end of 24 hours and 72 hours respectively, when lenses were cultured.

Na + concentration increased to 236.7 + 51.10 and 560 + 63.0: K + Concentration decreased to 123 56 + 15.9 and 38.1 + 8.1, chloride ion concentration decreased to 4.09 ± 0.7 at 24 hours; but increased to 5.6 + 0.82 at 72 hours. Similarly Calcium and Magnesium also decreased to 1.13 ± 0.6 and 1.4 ± 0.2 at 24 hours and to 4.7 ± 0.38 and 2.44 + 0.32 at 72 hours respectively [Table - 1]. 1


  Discussion Top


Fresh goat lenses showed an electrolyte pattern similar to other animals and human beings with nearly the same level of potassium but with higher levels of sodium, calcium and magnesium; chloride concentrations, however, was lower than in human lens.

The lens is dehydrated and has higher levels of K + ions and lower levels Na + and Cl - ions and water than the aqueous or the vitreous. Electrolyte and water gradient is maintained by either Na + ion extrusion `Pump' coupled to K + ion intake, depending on ATP breakdown and regulated by the enzyme Na +- K + ATPase which transports one Na + equivalent out of the lens and one K + equivalent into the lens, and by a Na + ion extrusion `Pump' depending on the physiochemical integrity of lens fiber membranes which maintain Na + ions and water out of the lens. In culture Na + ion extrusion pump also depends upon glucose concentration or metabolism. Disruption of the physicochemi­cal integrity of the membrane or metabolism causes subsequent gain of Na + ions and water, lens swelling and eventually complete loss of lens transparency.[4] Significant lens hydration occurs only after Na +sub K + exchange and uptake of chlorides[5].

Our results with Na + ion accumulation vis­a-vis lens hydration are in agreement with the above. No swelling or loss of transparency was seen in lens culture before 24 hours, where Na + K + exchange had begun but was not completed and thus water retention was not significant. While after 24 hours where a more significant exchange in Na + -K + ions with decrease in chloride ions has occured, an early cataractous phase was initiated alongwith some degree of hydration. Similarly when the experiments were terminated after 72 hours, a more significant sodium ion and water accumulation with very low potassium level, complete opacification of lens and hydration had developed.

Thus, our results indicate that in early cataractous phase Na + -K + ATP ase inhibition may likely be responsible for the electrolyte exchange. While in the later stages disruption of physico-chemical integrity of lens membranes may be involved predominantly. This, however, needs further confirmation which is being' undertaken with the help of specific Na +-K + ATP ase inhibitors like Ouabain.


  Summary Top


Electrolyte patterns were determined in normal goat lenses, in early and late cataractous stages in isolated lens organ culture. Mean electrolyte values for normal goat lenses were Sodium 147 ± 15.7, Potassium 130 ± 11.3, and Chlorides 5.1 ± 0.6, MEQ/Kg/Lens/wt., with Calcium 5.0 ± 0.55 and Magnesium 2.8 + 0.23 mg %. Lenses maintained in culture for 24 hours showed a significant increase in Sodium ion concentration with a small decrease in Potassium ion ccncentration and also in Chlorides in the early cataractous phase. While at the end of 72 hours, in the late cataractous phase, sodium was highly increased with concomitant very significant decrease in potassium. The chlorides also had started to increase at 72 hours. These changes are attributed to changes in membrane permeability to the ions. While sodium and water retention is specially responsible for cataractous changes observed.


  Acknowledgement Top


The authors are thankful to the Dean, Dr. V.M. Medical College, Solapur for the facilities given to undertake this work.

 
  References Top

1.
Haddad H.M., Shore B. Fuman M., Lens Organ Culture. Am. J. Ophthal. 63, 1731, 1967.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Mathur S.P., ACTA 6th Afro-Asian Cong., Ophthal. 192, 1976.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Varley, H., "Practical Clinical Biochemistry" 3rd Edition, William Heinemann, Medical books ltd., London, p. 412, 409, 404, 364, 1963.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Cotlier, E., The Lens in "Adlers physiology of eye" ed., Moses R.A., Sixth Edition the C.V. Mosby company p. 280-285. 1975.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Maraini, G., and Torcoli, D.. Ophthal. Res. 6: 197, 1974.  Back to cited text no. 5
    



 
 
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