Active and passive rubidium influx in normal human lenses and in senile cataracts

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the osmotic imbalance which occurs in a majority of human senile cataracts. Active and passive influx of rubidium has been determined in vitro in human lenses both normal and cataractous. It is concluded that the active transport of cations is on the average normal in senile cataractous lenses. It is possible that the activity of the cation pump is defective in a few cataractous lenses but no direct evidence of this can be given. The results indicate that cryo-extracted lenses may be utilized in this type of study provided that cryo-treatment during surgery is kept at the lowest possible level.