Antioxidant enzymes; possible mechanism of gold compound treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Reactive oxygen species play a critical role in inflammatory processes including rheumatoid disorders. Antioxidant therapy strategies have been postulated for the treatment of rheumatoid diseases. In this study, we investigated activities and therapeutic implications of antioxidant enzymes in rheumatoid disorders.

Light exposure induces antioxidant enzyme activities in eye tissues of frogs.

Retina and pigment epithelium of eyes are prone to increased production of reactive oxygen species and are susceptible to oxidative damage. We studied antioxidant enzyme activities in eye tissues exposed to prolonged low intensity (2000 lx) and short-term high intensity light (50000 lx) of visible range. Both prolonged low intensity and short-term intensive light increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in the pigment epithelium of frogs' eyes, while the activity of these enzymes in the retina remained unchanged.