Efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid against diabetic cataract in rat.
OBJECTIVE
alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) is well known as a powerful antioxidant. The efficacy of dihydrolipoate-LA for oral administration against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cataract in rat was investigated.


METHODS
Rats were divided into three groups, control, diabetes mellitus (DM), and DM treated with LA (DM+LA). Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg STZ. DM+LA rats were fed 30 mg/rat per day LA in their diet. Lens changes were assessed using Scheimpflug images (EAS-1000) and by measuring light-scattering intensity.


RESULTS
Increase in lens light scattering was less (P < 0.05) in DM+LA rats than in DM rats 5 weeks after induction of diabetes. DM rats had the highest and control rats the lowest blood glucose levels at every measurement point up to 111 days (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
LA treatment delayed development and progression of cataract in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
Kojima
Masami
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan. m-kojima@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
Sun
Li
L
Hata
Ikuho
I
Sakamoto
Yasuo
Y
Sasaki
Hiroshi
H
Sasaki
Kazuyuki
K
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002386:Cataract / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000503:physiopathology; D008027:Light; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008063:Thioctic Acid; C015144:dihydrolipoic acid