ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTENT OF MACROELEMENTS IN CATARACTAL AND NON-CATARACTAL CRYSTALLINE LENSES OF THE EYES

The elemental composition of cataract and non-cataract crystalline lenses was studied in this study. The study was carried out on Wistar rats (n = 30), two groups were formed: control and experimental. The animals of the experimental group were simulated age-related cataract using ultraviolet irradiation for 6 months. The sample collection of lenses was carried out after 2 (the early stages of cataract) and 6 months (the mature stages of cataract) of the experiment. The chemical composition of the samples was determined using by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The generation of reactive oxygen species under the action of ultraviolet radiation leads to a change in the permeability of cell membranes and, as a consequence, to a disturbance of homeostasis of elements. There is an imbalance of macronutrients in the lenses with the progress of cataract accompanying by an increase in the level of calcium and sodium and decrease in potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.