UVA light in vivo reaches the nucleus of the guinea pig lens and produces deleterious, oxidative effects.

The possible role of ultraviolet light in the formation of cataract is not well understood. In this study, guinea pigs were exposed to a chronic, low level of UVA light (0.5 mWcm(-2), 340-410 nm wavelength, peak at 365 nm) for 4-5 months.

Glutathione peroxidase-1 deficiency leads to increased nuclear light scattering, membrane damage, and cataract formation in gene-knockout mice.

Purpose: Previous in vitro studies with transgenic and gene-knockout mice have shown that lenses with elevated levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-1 activity are able to resist the cytotoxic effect of H(2)O(2), compared with normal lenses and lenses from GPX-1-deficient animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of this enzyme in antioxidant mechanisms of lens in vivo by comparing lens changes of gene-knockout mice with age-matched control animals.

Methods: In vivo lens changes were monitored by slit lamp biomicroscopy, and enucleated lenses were examined under a stereomicroscope in gene-knockout animals and age-matched control animals ranging in age from 3 weeks to 18 months.

Effect of pretreatment of germanium-132 on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and galactose cataracts.

Purpose: Recently, we reported that topical administration of 2-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) concurrently with 50% galactose feeding delayed the establishment of mature cataracts and reduced advance glycation product. This study was to determine the effect of pretreatment of Ge-132 on galactose associated morphological changes and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity.

Methods: Young Sprague Dawley rats received topical eye drops four times a day of either saline or Ge-132 seven days prior to the 50% galactose diet and during galactose feeding.

Effect of germanium-132 on galactose cataracts and glycation in rats.

Germanium compounds have been shown to be effective in preventing the formation of advanced glycation end-products and for reversible solubilization of glycated proteins. As protein glycation has been proposed to play a role in lens opacification, we initiated studies to evaluate the effects of 2-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (germanium compound 132 or Ge-132) on galactose-induced cataractogenesis. For this study young Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 50% galactose diet.