[Accumulation of 14C-cystine in inherited cataractous rat lens]

This study was designed to investigate the formation of mixed disulfides of protein and glutathione (GSH) in the cataractous lens. We compared the changes in accumulation of 14C-cystine in cultured inherited cataractous rat lens (ICR/f) during cataractogensis with those in Wistar strain rats. The accumulation of 14C-cystine in water insoluble protein (WIP) of the lens was increased, especially in lens recognized cataract. The radioactivity accumulated in the WIP was released by incubation with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), dithiothereitol (DTT) and GSH. The accumulation of 14C-cystine in WIP was inhibited by pretreatment with DTT. The existence of some materials in the lens-which combined with S-S compounds became clear. A large part of the materials is present in WIP which is increased along with the lens opacification. We surmised that the accumulation of 14C-cystine was related to the reaction of protein-glutathione disulfide (PSSG).