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Oxidized and reduced glutathione levels of the cornea in vivo

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Abstract

A new method for preparing the rabbit cornea is described for the assay of metabolite levels in the in vivo state. The preparation includes in vivo rapid freezing of the tissue by liquid nitrogen, freeze sawing, lyophilization, and extraction with 0.5 N perchloric acid. Reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione levels and the GSH/GSSG ratios were compared with adenosine phosphate levels and ATP/ADP ratios. The most important results of this investigation seemed to be a significant difference in the redox state of the glutathione between the epithelium and the endothelium of the cornea and the different reducing capacity of these tissues as indicated by the steady-state levels of the GSH and the GSSG. These metabolic processes may be used to eliminate toxic peroxides from the transparent ocular tissues produced by light or other chemical compounds.

Zusammenfassung

Beschreibung einer neuen Präparationsmethode für die Kaninchencornea zur Bestimmung von Metabolitspiegeln im in vivo-Status. Die Präparation des Gewebes erfolgte durch Frierstop in vivo mit flüssigem Stickstoff, Gefriersägen, Lyophilisation und Extraktion mit 0.5 N Perchlorsäure. Die Spiegel des reduzierten (GSH) und oxydierten (GSSG) Glutathions und der GSH/GSSG-Quotient wurden mit denjenigen der Adenosinphosphatverbindungen und dem ATP/ADP-Quotienten verglichen. Das wichtigste Ergebnis dieser Arbeit besteht in dem signifikanten Unterschied des Redoxstatus des Glutathions zwischen Corneaepithel und -endothel sowie in der unterschiedlichen Reduktionskapazität dieser Gewebe, die in den steady state-Spiegeln des GSH und GSSG zum Ausdruck kam. Es scheint, daß diese Stoffwechselvorgänge für die Entgiftung von Peroxyden benötigt werden, die durch den Einfluß des Lichtes und/oder bestimmten chemischen Substanzen in den Augengeweben entstehen können.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology Faculty of Medicine, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Goethestraße 27-29, D-5100, Aachen, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. Reim, E. Weidenfeld & A. W. Budi Santoso

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  1. M. Reim
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  2. E. Weidenfeld
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  3. A. W. Budi Santoso
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Bonn-Bad Godesberg

The essential parts of this paper were read at the 3rd ICER Meetings in Oska, Japan, May 23, 1978

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Reim, M., Weidenfeld, E. & Budi Santoso, A.W. Oxidized and reduced glutathione levels of the cornea in vivo. Albrecht von Graefes Arch. Klin. Ophthalmol. 211, 165–175 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410140

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