Cataracts Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cataracts, including details on surgical procedures, outcomes, causes, treatment.

Oxidative damage to lens in culture: reversibility by pyruvate and ethyl pyruvate.

Varma SD, Hegde KR, Kovtun S

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. svarma2384@aol.com

It is generally believed that prophylactic intake of antioxidants is beneficial in delaying the onset of some aging manifestations such as cataract. However, whether such a supplementation will also be effective if the pathophysiological process has already set in remains a largely open question. We examined this possibility with lens changes leading to cataract formation, since cataract genesis is intimately related to a continued generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the aqueous humor. Since the formation of cataract is a well-defined progressive disease, starting with an early refractive change and leading to gradual enhancement of opacification, we hypothesized that even a belated start with an appropriate anti-oxidant could halt the pathological process and delay cataract maturation and vision impairment. Using lens cultures, we tested this hypothesis with pyruvate, known to be an effective and highly potent ROS scavenger. Adding pyruvate to the culture medium after lenses had sustained a 50% damage was significantly effective in preventing progress. This was apparent by better maintenance of the active rubidium transport activity in these lenses compared to controls without pyruvate treatment. Glutathione levels were also higher in the pyruvate group.

Published 23 December 2005 in Ophthalmologica, 220(1): 52-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Cataracts Research Today. All Rights Reserved.