Distributional Change of Alpha-Tocopherol in the Rat Lens with Age

Abstract

Concentration of α-tocopherol (α-Toc.) in the rat lens (1,4 and 12 months old) was determined in single lenticular layers using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The highest concentration of α-Toc. in lens was found in the nucleus, followed by the deeper anterior and deeper posterior cortices, the shallow anterior and shallow posterior cortices, and the equatorial region. The topographic α-Toc. distribution in the lens did not differ between lenses of 1-, 4- and 12-month-old rats. A significant decrease of α-Toc. concentration was seen in lenses of 4- and 12-month-old rats compared to those 1 month old. Concentration and distribution in 4- and 12-month-old rat lenses were almost the same. The concentration of α-Toc. in the lens changes in relation to age.

Possibility of Clinical Application of Vitamin E to Cataract Prevention

“…Nagata et al . [ 38 ] have shown that the highest level of ␣ -tocopherol in 1-month-old rat lenses is in the nuclear region followed by the deeper anterior cortex, the shallow anterior cortex, the shallow posterior cortex, and the equatorial region and that the distribution pattern of ␣ -tocopherol is similar in 4-and 12-month-old rat lenses and the level of ␣ -tocopherol in the lens fractions of 4-and 12-month-old rats is as follows: nucleus Ͼ deeper posterior cortex Ͼ deeper anterior cortex м shallow posterior cortex Ͼ shallow anterior cortex м equator. This finding indicates that the distribution of vitamin E Vol.…”