Vitamin C reduces cytochalasin D cataractogenesis.
The effect of cytochalasin D (CD), an actin monomer-stabilizer, has been studied on cataract development in rat lenses. Cataractogenesis was induced by incubating the rat lenses in medium 199 (M199) containing 10(-5) M CD; by the end of 24 h, lenses first developed a visible opacity. The increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium, leakage of lens cytosolic proteins into the culture medium and observable development of opacity through a dissection microscope were correlated with cell damage associated with cataract formation. Non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to separate three lens LDH isoenzymes. The effect of 1 mM vitamin C (VC) in reducing LDH leakage was also examined. The protective effect of VC on CD-initiated cataractous lenses is significant. This suggest that a portion of the opacity and lens damage may involve oxidative damage to the membrane-cytoskeleton complex which is started by CD, but partially prevented by VC
Kilic
F
F
Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Trevithick
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003470:Culture Media; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000633:toxicity*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003470:Culture Media; D007527:Isoenzymes; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid