title: Biochemical changes and cataract formation in lenses from rats receiving multiple, low doses of sodium selenite.
abstract: Nuclear cataract formed in rat lens in response to a protocol of multiple, low doses of sodium selenite. Nuclear cataract occurred, in both Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats, following five subcutaneous injections of selenite over an 8-day period with an accumulated dose of 40-50 nmol selenite g-1 body weight. Glutathione content decreased within the first 24 hr of treatment and remained at 60% of controls. Lipid peroxidation occurred in Wistar rats prior to nuclear cataract formation. A two to three-fold increase in calcium concentration and decreased protein content accompanied nuclear cataract development. Enzyme activities were measured for glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase, and only the peroxidase activity remained constant through the period of cataract formation. This protocol resulted in nuclear cataracts similar in appearance to those observed with a single, acute dose of selenite. The opportunity to control the rate of selenite-dependent cataract formation allows further definition of precataractous events.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Beijing Medical University, P.R. China.
authors: L L
authors: LL
authors: Huang
authors: C Y
authors: CY
authors: Zhang
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Hess
authors: G E
authors: GE
authors: Bunce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D009929:Organ Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020887:Selenious Acid; D012643:Selenium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011506:Proteins; D020887:Selenious Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D012643:Selenium