ENZYMATIC CHARACTER OF RESPIRATION OF THE LENS

THE PROBLEM of the respiration of the lens has been subjected to great study by Christiansen and Leinfelder. On the basis of several series of experiments, they have arrived at the conclusion that the respiration of the lens is a nonenzymatic process. The maintenance of a normal oxygen consumption in spite of boiling the lens furnishes their principal argument. We decided it would be of interest to reexamine this important problem; therefore, we ask the following questions: Does the boiled lens continue to consume oxygen? Is this oxygen consumption of the same nature as that of the fresh lens? What is the nature of oxygen consumption in the boiled lens? To answer the first question, we homogenized 10 calf lenses in 10 cc. of water in a Waring Blendor. The mixture was poured into centrifuge tubes and heated in a salt-water bath while being shaken continuously. The heating was carried