Changes of some biochemical parameters of the lens in galactose-treated weaned rats with and without vitamin E therapy.
We tried to counteract the appearance of galactosemic cataracts in weaned rats by high doses of vitamin E. Rats were fed a diet containing 33% galactose. Cataract development was monitored by biomicroscopy and by several biochemical parameters: K+/Na+ ratio, aldose reductase activity, level of protein and non-protein sulfhydryl (SH) groups. Vitamin E was given parenterally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day. The K+/Na+ ratio drops after 15 days of galactosemia, while the level of the aldose reductase rises after only 5 days of treatment. The non-protein SH groups lens contents fall from the 5th day of treatment onwards, while protein SH groups are not affected. In short-term experiments vitamin E does not prevent biochemical changes caused by galactosemia. The oxidative insult does not seem to be primarily involved in galactose cataract.
D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003459:Crystallins; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014810:Vitamin E; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D005690:Galactose