Effect of corticosteroids on electrolyte transport of the isolated human and rabbit lens.

In the isolated human lens, short circuit current was inhibited by pharmacological concentrations of 6-methylprednisolone and opacities occurred in the posterior subcapsular region in some lenses. The effect was seen only when the anterior (epithelial) surface of the lens was exposed. There was an increase of the short circuit current in the rabbit lens by 6-methyl-prednisolone and the lenses remained clear. Methylprednisolone effects were seen in spite of Na-K-ATPase inhibition by ouabain. Aldosterone had no effect on the translenticular potential difference, short circuit current and transparency. The data are discussed with respect to corticosteroid receptors in the lens epithelium and to the pathogenesis of steroid-associated cataract in man.