Effect of electroacupuncture to prevent selenite-induced cataract in Wistar rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether electroacupuncture can prevent selenite-induced cataract in an experimental model.


METHODS
Fifty Wistar rat pups were randomized into 5 groups of 10 animals: Group 1 (control), no procedure was performed; Group 2 (selenite), sodium selenite (30 micromoles/kg body weight) was injected subcutaneously between postpartum days 10 to 12; Group 3 (anesthesia) received the same dose of selenite and underwent ether inhalation anesthesia during 10 minutes daily for one week; Group 4 (electroacupuncture) underwent the same procedure of Group 3, but also receiving electroacupuncture (2 Hz, 50 mA) applied to the Neiguan (PC6) and Guangming (GB37) acupoints during the anesthesia period; and Group 5 (Sham) underwent the same procedures of Group 4, but needles were applied to non-acupoints. The development of cataract was assessed one week later, and its density was graded by slit lamp biomicroscopy.


RESULTS
All control rats' lenses (Group 1) were clear. Groups 2, 3 and 5 rats developed more severe cataract or complete opacification. In Group 4 (electroacupuncture), 45% of eyes did not develop cataract while thirty per cent developed less severe cataract than Groups 2, 3 and 5. The between-group difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Lens opacification grade in Groups 1 and 4 was lower than in the Groups 2, 3 and 5 (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture effectively decreased selenite-induced cataract formation rate in pup rats when needles were applied at specific acupoints.
Cariello
Angelino Julio
AJ
Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. angelino65@yahoo.com
Casanova
Fábio Henrique
FH
Lima Filho
Acácio Alves de Souza
AA
Juliano
Yara
Y
Tabosa
Angela
A
D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018038:Sodium Selenite
D018038:Sodium Selenite