NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANALYSES OF THE COLD CATARACT - WHOLE LENS STUDIES

Abstract

Pulse NMR magnetization decay studies were performed on normal and cold cataractous rat lenses. Computer analyses of the decay curves were interpreted to reflect 2 types of water within the lens that do not exchange rapidly. Upon lowering the temperature in the presence and absence of 5% acrylamide (a known agent that prevents the cold cataract phenomenon), significant differences in the relaxation rates of one water fraction were noted. 2H (NMR) spectra on young rabbit and human lenses showed temperature-related line width canges, which are significantly diminished in lenses incubated in acrylamide. 31P spectra also showed similar P line width changes and also reflected progressive alterations in the metabolic state of these lenses. The potential of NMR methods for monitoring physicochemical parameters in the normal and cataractous mammalian lens is demonstrated.