Fig. 3. Carboxitin permeates bovine and mouse lenses.

(A) UPLC-MS² analysis of bovine lens fractions for GSH-NEM and MEG-NEM. The lenses were incubated with 1.5 mM carboxitin for 48 h at 37°C prior to analysis. (B) WS mouse lens analysis by UPLC-MS² for carboxitin, MEG-NEM, GSH-OEt₂-NEM, GSH-OEt-NEM (1), and GSH-OEt-NEM (2). The lenses were incubated with 2 mM carboxitin for 24 h at 37°C prior to analysis. (C) Thiol estimation using the DTNB assay in mouse lenses treated with or without 2 mM carboxitin for 24 h and then treated with or without erythrulose for another 3 days at 37°C in a CO₂ incubator. Bar graphs represent the means ± SD of triplicate measurements. NS, not significant; *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ****p<0.0001.