Abstract
The direct effect of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12 (S)-HETE] on rat crystalline lens was investigated in this study. 12 (S)-HETE lowered the glutatione (GSH) level and GSH reductase activity in the lens, while accelerating aggregation and insolubilization of lens proteins and production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substrances. The study also indicated that 12 (S)-HETE insolubilized α-crystalline and induced opacification of the lens when the lens was incubated with 12 (S)-HETE. From these results, we presumed that 12 (S)-HETE may be oxidized or peroxidized easily and automatically in the air. The substances derived from 12 (S)-HETE by oxidation or peroxidation may give the action disordering lens normalcy and induced cataract formation. Thus, the direct effect of 12 (S)-HETE may of no benefit to the crystalline lens.
