The major objective of this study is to learn how environmental ultraviolet light interferes with the normal functioning of the ocular tissues. 1. Eyes of near-UV light exposed (300-400 nm) squirrels will be used as models for near-UV light effects on human eyes. Biochemical and anatomical studies of near-UV light effects on lens proteins, chromophores, enzymes, membrane stability and epithelial cell growth will be done. 2. Freely soluble and protein bound chromophores will be extracted from brunescent and pale nuclei and opaque and clear areas of human lenses for comparison; and on UV exposed and control squirrel lenses, HPLC, TLC, column chromatography, slab gel polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and optical methods will be used. 3. The effects of H2O2 and tryptophan UV photoproducts and near-UV light on in vitro lens epithelial cell protein synthesis, oxidation-reduction and ATPase enzymes of human and shark lenses will also be studied. 4. Fiber cell mmembrane stability of portions of brunescent and pale human lens nuclei and opaque and clear areas will be studied by SEM of extracted minced preparations and ease of protein extractibility by non-denaturing and denaturing solvents. 5. Photochemical changes in physical and chemical features of the vitreous humor and in morphology of the retina of aphakic squirrels exposed to near-UV light will be compared with those of normal eyes to discern if the absence of lens filtration enhances light damage to posterior tissues. 6. Cooperative Cataract Research studies of fresh human cataracts will continue in order to assess the role of external and internal factors on specific types of human cataract.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY000459-16
Application #
3255370
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1977-05-01
Project End
1987-04-30
Budget Start
1985-05-01
Budget End
1986-04-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Rochester
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
208469486
City
Rochester
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14627
Zigman, S; McDaniel, T; Schultz, J et al. (2000) Effects of intermittent UVA exposure on cultured lens epithelial cells. Curr Eye Res 20:95-100
Atherton, S J; Lambert, C; Schultz, J et al. (1999) Fluorescence studies of lens epithelial cells and their constituents. Photochem Photobiol 70:823-8
Zigman, S; Schultz, J B; Schultz, M (1998) Measurement of oxygen production by in vitro human and animal lenses with an oxygen electrode. Curr Eye Res 17:115-9
DeMott, M S; Zigman, S; Bambara, R A (1998) Replication protein A stimulates long patch DNA base excision repair. J Biol Chem 273:27492-8
Rafferty, N S; Rafferty, K A; Zigman, S (1997) Comparative response to UV irradiation of cytoskeletal elements in rabbit and skate lens epithelial cells. Curr Eye Res 16:310-9
DeMott, M S; Shen, B; Park, M S et al. (1996) Human RAD2 homolog 1 5'- to 3'-exo/endonuclease can efficiently excise a displaced DNA fragment containing a 5'-terminal abasic lesion by endonuclease activity. J Biol Chem 271:30068-76
Zigman, S; Reddan, J; Schultz, J B et al. (1996) Structural and functional changes in catalase induced by near-UV radiation. Photochem Photobiol 63:818-24
Zigman, S; McDaniel, T; Schultz, J B et al. (1995) Damage to cultured lens epithelial cells of squirrels and rabbits by UV-A (99.9%) plus UV-B (0.1%) radiation and alpha tocopherol protection. Mol Cell Biochem 143:35-46
Zigman, S (1995) Environmental near-UV radiation and cataracts. Optom Vis Sci 72:899-901
Zigman, S; Rafferty, N S; Schultz, M (1995) Dogfish (Mustelus canis) lens catalase reduces H2O2-induced opacification. Biol Bull 189:222-3

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