Bovine lenses, obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse, have been cultured successfully in a completely defined medium, for periods of up to two weeks. In control lenses, transparency is maintained, ionic balance and hydration are normal, and the amino acid L-tyrosine is in a steady state. Synthesis of the lens specific proteins continues throughout the culture period and there is no evidence of crystallin breakdown.
Cultured lenses have been subjected to insult by various substances known to affect membrane function. In each case, ionic balance was disturbed, hydration was increased and there was gradual opacification of the lens. In addition, in the presence of ouabain, amino acid transport was decreased after a delay, while there was a very rapid reduction in protein synthesis.
The cultured lens seems to be a very sensitive system which can be used as a model for investigations of normal function and for in vitro testing.
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