title: Ultraviolet B-induced corneal and lens damage in guinea pigs on low-ascorbic acid diet.
abstract: To evaluate ocular morphological response to ultraviolet B (UV-B) exposure in guinea pigs fed with normal and low-ascorbic acid (ASA) diets, 24 guinea pigs were randomly divided into UVR (normal diet + UV-B), LVC (low-ASA diet + UV-B) and CTL (normal diet, without UV-B) groups. The irradiated animals were exposed to 8.2 J/cm(2) of UV-B over 29 weeks. Changes in the cornea and lens were examined using a Scheimpflug camera, specular microscope and histological studies. ASA contents in the plasma, aqueous humor and lens sections were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed low contents of ASA in the plasma, aqueous humor and lens sections in LVC. Both irradiated groups displayed corneal epithelial edema, neovascularization in stroma, increase in corneal thickness, decrease in endothelial density, and lens epithelial damage. No significant morphological differences in cornea and lens were found between guinea pigs fed with low-ASA or normal diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaili
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Ying Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Shui
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid