Superoxide dismutase in ocular structures.

Specific immunohistochemical localization of superoxide dismutase in ocular tissue of Lewis rats revealed the presence of this enzyme predominantly in the corneal epithelium, endothelium, apical regions of the posterior epithelium of the iris, nonpigmented inner ciliary epithelium, lens epithelium, inner segments of photoreceptor cell layer of the retina, and retinal pigment epithelium. This enzyme is distributed primarily in those ocular structures which may be frequently exposed to superoxide or its metabolites under physiologic conditions and in such pathologic processes as intraocular inflammations. It thus appears that superoxide dismutase and other antioxidants may play a protective role in preventing the damaging effects of oxygen radicals.