Protection by iodide of lens from selenite-induced cataract.
BACKGROUND
Iodide has been used empirically against different age-related eye diseases, including cataract. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of iodide on selenite-induced cataract in rat lens.


METHODS
Young white rats received subcutaneously sodium selenite (20 and 30 nmol/g b.w.) on day 13 post partum (p.p.). Cataract development was measured by expert estimation and image data analysis. Potassium iodide (1.5 nmol/g b.w.) was given (1-5 times) i.p. at different times with respect to the selenite administration. Lens opacification was analyzed in selenite, selenite-iodide, iodide and control groups on day 7 after selenite administration.


RESULTS
Iodide showed a significant protective effect against selenite cataract when injected 2 days (2 times) before selenite injection, i.e., on days 11 and 12 p.p. No significant effects on lens opacity were found: (1) after only one iodide injection (on day 12 p.p.), (2) after an initial iodide administration 1 h before selenite and (3) after injections of iodide once a day for 5 consecutive days. The protective effect of iodide was the same (about 50%) for both selenite doses used.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a time-dependent protective influence of iodide against selenite cataract development. It is supposed that the anticataract effect of iodide could be based on direct or indirect antioxidant mechanisms.
Muranov
Konstantin
K
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Street 4, 117344, Moscow, Russia. k.muranov@sky.chph.ras.ru.
Poliansky
Nicolas
N
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Street 4, 117344, Moscow, Russia.
Winkler
Rudolf
R
Paracelsus Society for Balneology and Iodine Research, Bad Hall, Austria.
Rieger
Gebhard
G
Paracelsus Society for Balneology and Iodine Research, Bad Hall, Austria.
Schmut
Otto
O
University Eye Hospital, Graz, Austria.
Horwath-Winter
Jutta
J
University Eye Hospital, Graz, Austria.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011193:Potassium Iodide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
D011193:Potassium Iodide; D018038:Sodium Selenite