[The influence of cortisone upon the metabolism of surviving lens epithelia and iris tissue (author's transl)].

Warburg experiments showed the oxygen consumption by lens epithelium and iris tissue without and after addition of 4 mg methylprednisolone to 100 cc medium. In the last case the O2-uptake of the epithelium seemed diminished, that of the iris tissue showed significantly reduced to 50%. The determination of the consumption of glucose was done by measuring its level in the medium before and after a 5 day's incubation, without and after addition of 4 mg-% of methylprednisolone, by means of the "Merckotest". The consumption of the epithelia lowered to 1/6; contrarily rose that of the iris tissue significantly to the double amount. The metabolism of the iris tissue showed a good adaptation in compensating a lower respiratory activity by a augmented glycolysis, which is impossible to the lens epithelium. This may be one of the factors inducing a cortisonic cataract.