PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF LENS BY 8-METHOXYPSORALEN

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 16  (11) , 1065-1068
Abstract
During the past decade, ambient UV radiation has been implicated in the age-related increase in fluorescence and pigmentation of the human lens nucleus. 8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) (used for the treatment of psoriasis) is a well-known photosensitizing agent. When rats are subjected to ambient light or UV radiation in vivo, there is an enhancement of lenticular fluorescence (360/440 nm) and a change in their phosphorescence spectra. In vitro studies on lenses derived from rats given 8-MOP and exposed to monochromatic UV radiation show effects similar to those of the in vivo experiments. 8-MOP enters the lens and can be affected by ambient light as well as UV radiation, resulting in a photosensitized enhancement of lenticular fluorescence and a binding of this photosensitizing agent to macromolecules within the lens.