phosphorus-radioisotopes and Cataract

Using phosphorous-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectroscopy, we observed the metabolic kinetics of organophosphate compounds in the rat lens during cataract development induced by different doses of galactose (5%, 15%, 25%, and 40%) added to rat chow. The metabolic and histologic changes in the lenses were compared among the rats fed with different doses of galactose. alpha-Glycerophosphate significantly increased in response to the galactose doses, followed by a decrease to steady values of approximately 120% of the base line value, except in the 40% galactose group, which had a marked decrease to 68% of the base line value. Choline phosphate decreased rapidly during dosing in all but the 5% group, but no changes in those levels were observed after 2 weeks of galactose dosing. ATP decreased significantly when the histologic destruction progressed in the entire lens. Although inorganic phosphate increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, it did not exceed the peak level. The histologic changes were closely related to the dynamic changes in the phosphorous compounds in the rat lens during formation of the galactose-induced cataract. Our results indicated that the development of a galactose-induced cataract was associated with the metabolic changes of the phosphate compounds.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Cataract; Galactose; Glycerophosphates; Histocytochemistry; Lens, Crystalline; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Phosphates; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Phosphorylcholine; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Of 358 eyes enucleated between 1962 and 1975, and found to contain posterior uveal melanomas, 31 had opaque media (8.6%). Eighteen of these patients with opaque media were seen between 1962 and 1971, before the use of combined ultrasonography and the radioactive phosphorus uptake (32P) test. Melanoma was unsuspected at enucleation in one third of these patients and there was often a long delay in diagnosis. Of the 13 patients seen between 1971 and 1975, after the initiation of combined ultrasonography and 32P) test, there was no delay in diagnosis becuase a melanoma pattern was recognized immediately with ultrasonography and confirmed with a positive 32P test. During the latter part of this study, 19 patients with opaque media had a "melanoma pattern" with ultrasonography. The 32P test was positive in 12 cases and a melanoma was confirmed histologically in every instance. The 32P test was negative in seven cases and all were documented on follow-up to have benign lesions, such as subretinal hemorrhages.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cataract; Diagnosis, Differential; Eye Neoplasms; Female; Glaucoma; Humans; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Panophthalmitis; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Hemorrhage; Ultrasonography; Uveal Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cataract; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Eye Diseases; Eye Neoplasms; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Panophthalmitis; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Retinal Detachment; Time Factors; Ultrasonography; Uveal Diseases; Vitreous Body