Chemical Studies of Lipids of Normal Animal Lenses, Cataractous Human Lenses and the Blood of Patients With Cataract

Phospholipid Content of Cataractous Human Lenses

“…For this reason, the results for this type of lenses are subject to greater irregularities. THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY In agreement with data reported previously (Salit, 1933;Salit and O'Brien, 1935), it is seen from Table I that, on the average, cataractous lenses of the mature type weigh slightly less (01990 gm.) than those of the incipient type (02045 gm.).…”

“…This is in accordance with Wessely (1922) who detected birefractive calcium soaps, phosphates, and carbonates mixed with cholesterol in cataractous lenses. This exolanation is also strongly supported by the fact that the calcium content of cataractous lenses increases proportionatelv with the development of the cataract (Salit, 1933), most of the calcium evidently being derived from the surrounding aqueous and It is the phosphorus content of phospholipids that is estimated in the colorimetric method, and from the phosphorus the amount of phospholipid is calculated in terms of lecithin. vitreous humours.…”

“…In their natural state the lipids act as protective agents for the tissue protein against excessive water absorption and the influence of certain toxic substances. When, however, the lipids decompose, they not only lose this protective function, but, in addition, liberate harmful substances such as fatty acids, which may tend to coagulate the lens protein (see bibliography by O'Brien and Salit, 1931) or combine with calcium, forming more or less insoluble calcium soaps. The decomposition of the phospholipids may even proceed to the point of liberation of the phosphorus from its choline radical.…”