Direct effect of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid on rat crystalline lens is perturbation of lens normalcy.

The direct effect of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(S)-HETE] on rat crystalline lens was investigated in this study. 12(S)-HETE lowered the glutathione (GSH) level and GSH reductase activity in the lens, while accelerating aggregation and insolubilization of lens proteins and production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. The study also indicated that 12(S)-HETE insolubilized alpha-crystalline and induced opacification of the lens when the lens was incubated with 12(S)-HETE. From the results, we presumed that 12(S)-HETE may be oxidized or peroxidized easily and automatically in the air. The substances derived from 12(S)-HETE by oxidation or peroxidation may give the action disordering lens normalcy and induced cataract formation. Thus, the direct effect of 12(S)-HETE may of no benefit to the crystalline lens.