[Accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in the human lens during cataract maturation]

130 human lens impaired with cataract of various etiology (senile, traumatic, complicated cataract) and of different cataract maturation (initial, immature, quite mature, mature, over-maturated) as well as 18 transparent lens were studied. Primary products of lipid peroxidation (LP, hydroperoxides), secondary products (ketodiens) and the end products (Shiff bases) were distinctly accumulated in cataract lens. Intermediates of primary LP products were accumulated in lens within early periods of cataract development but the end LP products were mainly found at the late steps of cataract formation. Accumulation of the LP products was not distinctly different in cataracts with various clinical manifestations but similar in the level of maturation, thus indicating that lipid peroxidation plays a universal role in the process of lens opacity. The data obtained suggest that inhibitors of free radical oxidation (antioxidants) may be employed in medicamental treatment of cataracts.