title: Doxorubicin-induced cataract formation in rats and the inhibitory effects of hazelnut, a natural antioxidant: a histopathological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate whether hazelnut prevents doxorubicin-induced experimental cataract in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five 4-week-old male Wistar albino rats were randomized into 5 equal groups. Beginning from 6 weeks of age, the groups were treated with intraperitoneal injections of saline solution or doxorubicin (DR) for 4 weeks. Group 1 received saline solution (0.5 ml/200 g) weekly, groups 2 and 4 a cumulative dose of 6 mg/kg (1.5 mg/kg/week) of DR, and groups 3 and 5 received a cumulative dose of 12 mg/kg (3 mg/kg/week) DR. All the rats were fed ad libitum with a 24% protein rodent chow. Groups 4 and 5 were additionally fed 5 g/day hazelnut. At the end of the tenth week the rats were sacrificed and cataract development was investigated histopathologically. The groups were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All control lenses (group 1) were macroscopically clear. Cataractous changes were noted in 7 eyes (47%) in group 2 and in 10 (67%) in group 3 (p=0.01). Groups 3 and 5 had cataractous changes in 4 (27%) and 5 (33%) eyes, respectively (p=0.001). The cataract development ratio was different between groups 2 and 4 (p=0.013), while there was no such difference between groups 3 and 5 (p=0.053). Histopathological findings suggesting cataractogenesis were eosinophilic degeneration, cortical lens-fiber cell swelling, and the retention of nuclei in central fibers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hazelnut prevented doxorubicin-induced cataract in low doses. Since it has no known harmful effect on healthy cells, it may be beneficial in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gülhane Military Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. atillabayer@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evereklioglu
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demirkaya
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: Yildirim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karslioglu
authors.forename: Gungor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D031211:Corylus; D004032:Diet; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004317:Doxorubicin