THE PERMEABILITY OF THE LENS CAPSULE TO WATER, DEXTROSE AND OTHER SUGARS

Abstract

In a previous paper 1 quantitative studies on the permeability of the lens capsule to various colloid and crystalloid analine dyes were reported, together with qualitative studies in regard to the permeability for various other organic and inorganic substances. In view of the importance of water and dextrose in the normal metabolism of all tissues and in view of the experimentally demonstrated dextrose consumption of the lens 2 it seemed desirable to obtain, if possible, experimental data of a quantitative nature in regard to the permeability of the lens capsule for water and dextrose. The method that was devised for these experiments was very simple. The apparatus is shown in figure 1. The experimental procedure was as follows : Capsules removed from the lenses of freshly enucleated eyes were cleansed by prolonged shaking in frequent changes of physiologic solution of sodium chloride, as described in the previous paper, 1