Monoamine oxidase and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activities in bovine eye.

The activities of MAO-A, MAO-B and the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) were determined in bovine lens, retina, optic nerve, iris and epithelium. No activities were detected in lens but the SSAO activity was found to be rather evenly distributed in the other tissues. The SSAO activities determined with 1 microM benzylamine were about half those determined for MAO-B. MAO-A activity, measured with 5-HT as substrate, was considerably greater than those of MAO-B and SSAO, determined with 2-phenylethylamine and benzylamine, respectively, in all the eye tissues.