Hydrogen saline prevents selenite-induced cataract in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential antioxidative effect and mechanism for the protective effects of hydrogen saline on selenite-induced cataract in rats.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rat pups were divided into the following groups: control (Group A), selenite induced (Group B), and selenite plus hydrogen saline treated (Group C). Rat pups in Groups B and C received a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (25 μmol/kg bodyweight) on postnatal day 12. Group C also received an intraperitoneal injection of H2 saline (5 ml/kg bodyweight) daily from postnatal day 8 to postnatal day 17. The development of cataract was assessed weekly by slit-lamp examination for 2 weeks. After sacrifice, extricated lenses were analyzed for activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase, levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), and total sulfhydryl contents.


RESULTS
The magnitude of lens opacification in Group B was significantly higher than in Group A (p<0.05), while Group C had less opacification than Group B (p<0.05). Compared with Group B, the mean activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase, levels of GSH, and total sulfhydryl contents were higher, whereas the level of malondialdehyde was lower following treatment with hydrogen saline(p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This is an initial report showing that hydrogen saline can prevent selenite-induced cataract in rats. It acts via maintaining antioxidant enzymes and GSH, protecting the sulfhydryl group, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.
Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Chun-xiao
CX
Yang
Hong
H
Yan
Tian-bing
TB
Ding
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D012995:Solubility; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D003459:Crystallins; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006859:Hydrogen; D005978:Glutathione; D018038:Sodium Selenite