Fluctuations of Γ-glutamyl Transpeptidase in Normal and Cataractous Human Eye

The most common form of cataract is the “Senile Cataract” occurring in the aged population, which has great socio-medical prevalence for many third world countries, where annually 2-3 million people become blind due to cataract. The cause and phenomenon of cataract development may be same but the changes related with γglutamyl transpeptidase (GTP) activity depends on age and types of cataract. Therefore, in present investigation the fluctuation of this enzyme was studied in the lens of patients suffering from senile cataract. The study shows an intensive decrease of GTP activity, which is 9.595 ± 0.094 n moles/min/mg (mean ± SD) in normal lenses as compared to 3.7 ± 0.216 n moles/min/mg (mean ± SD) in cataractous lens. Since GTP reacts very effectively with glutathione (GSH) amongst all the enzymes involved in the glutathione cycle it appears that GSH is entirely degraded within the lens. This study may help in finding degree, types and progress of cataract in patients.