CARNOSINE OF THE OCULAR TISSUES

Abstract

Since the normal biochemistry of the ocular tissues is practically unknown, it is difficult to determine the course of events leading to pathologic changes. One method of studying the biochemistry of a tissue is to analyze the tissues and to determine quantitatively the amounts of the various major constituents. In a previous series of articles,¹ too numerous to mention here, the results of the analyses of two major constituents of the ocular tissues, i. e., the proteins and the lipids, were reported. During the past two years interest was turned toward an inquiry into the nature of the third constituent, the water-soluble extractives. In most of the ocular tissues these substances occur in minute quantities and are difficult to isolate and identify chemically. Frequently the water-soluble extractives can be determined only quantitatively, one at a time, in the tissues. Consequently the investigation may be limited to a few