Anticataractogenic effect of betaine in chick embryo hydrocortisone-induced cataract model

Background & objectives: Cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. The aim of the present study was to investigate anticataractogenic effect of betaine in chick embryo hydrocortisone (HC)-induced cataract model. Methods: The study included 60 fertilized eggs divided into six groups each having 10 eggs: one group treated with only HC (HC group); three treated with both HC and different doses of betaine (HC/B 1.00, HC/B 0.50 and HC/B 0.25 groups) and two non-HC groups treated with only phosphate-buffered saline (PBS group) or betaine (B group). After the injections, lenses of the embryos were removed and classified into five stages according to the lens opacification. The amounts of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the removed lenses were measured. Results: All the lenses in non-HC-treated groups were clear, whereas in the HC-treated group, 90 per cent of the lenses had cataract (stages 4 and 5). The mean score of lens opacity was significantly lower in all HC/B groups compared to HC group (2.4-3.5 vs. 4.4, P<0.05). Among HC/B groups, the HC/B 0.25 group had significantly lower mean score of lens opacity compared to remaining HC/B groups treated with higher doses of betaine. In addition, the mean reduced GSH level was significantly higher in HC/B 0.25 group compared to HC, HC/B 1.00 and HC/B 0.50 groups (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: The present results show beneficial anti-cataract and anti-oxidant effects of 0.25 mu mol/egg betaine on HC-induced cataract in the chick embryo.