Evaluation of lenticular antioxidant and redox system components in the lenses of acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in BSO-induced glutathione deprivation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) retards L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO)-induced cataractogenesis in Wistar rat pups.


METHODS
On postpartum day 3, group I pups received intraperitoneal (ip) saline and group II and group III pups received i.p. injections of BSO once daily for three consecutive days. In addition, group III pups received ip ALCAR once daily from postpartum days 3-15. Both eyes of each pup were examined up from postpartum day 16 to day 30. After sacrifice, extricated pup lenses were analyzed for antioxidant and redox system components.


RESULTS
There was dense lenticular opacification in all group II pups, minimal opacification in 40% of group III pups, and no opacification in 60% of group III pups and in all of group I pups. Group II lenses exhibited significantly lower values of antioxidant and redox system components and higher malondialdehyde concentrations than in group I or group III lenses.


CONCLUSIONS
ALCAR prevents cataractogenesis in the BSO-induced cataract model, possibly by inhibiting depleting antioxidant enzyme and redox system components and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.
Elanchezhian
R
R
Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sakthivel
M
M
Isai
M
M
Geraldine
P
P
Thomas
P A
PA
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000172:deficiency*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D005978:Glutathione