title: A possible mechanism of X-ray-induced injury in rat lens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  X-ray and other radiation can cause cataract, but the pathogenic mechanism is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation of iron in the x-ray-exposed rat lens and its relationship to lens injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty male Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups of 10. Groups 2 and 4 rats were sham-exposed, groups 3 and 5 were x-ray-treated, and group 1 served as control. X-ray radiation and sham exposure were performed in a similar manner. After 10 and 30 days of exposure, a lens from each rat in groups 2 and 3, and 3 and 5, respectively, were analyzed by flame atomic absorption technique for the assessment of metal content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly decreased zinc and increased iron and calcium concentrations were detected in the lens samples of groups 3 and 5 compared with groups 2 and 4 and controls. Similar results were obtained comparing groups 5 and 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that x-ray exposure may cause toxic cell injury of the rat lens via Fenton metals catalyzed damage. Initial lens membrane damage in the radiolytic phase may permit the access of iron resulting in lens damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Avunduk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yardimci
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Avunduk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kurnaz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cengiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium