Clinical significance of serum biochemistry changes in mice with targeted disruption of βB2-crystallin gene

AIM: To explore the pathogenesis, influencing factors, ways of medical intervention and evaluation indicators of cataract by observing changes in serum biochemical indices in mice with targeted disruption of beta B2-crystallin. METHODS: Nine 6-week-old male mice with targeted knockout of beta B2-crystallin were used as the study group, and nine age- and sex-matched normal wild-type mice as the control group. The genetype of the modeled mice was identified by PCR technique. Tropicamide and phenylephrine eye drops were used as the cycloplegic agents to observe changes in lens opacity with a slit-lamp. The lens was then removed and blood was collected for biochemical evaluation in the serum. RESULTS: Two genotypes were successfully identified by PCR technique. Slit-lamp observation showed that the lens cortex was opaque and GSH level in the lens cortex was remarkably decreased in mice with beta B2-crystallin deficiency compared with the control group (P<0.01). Serum Na+, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Fe2+ levels, ALT and AST activities, and TP, ALP, Cr, TC, GLU content were decreased significantly compared with the control group (P <0.05). There was no difference in LDH, P, Cu2+, K+ levels between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with the wild-type mice, serum biochemical indices underwent significant changes in mice with targeted disruption of beta B2-crystallin gene, especially with abnormal distribution of Na+&Ca2+, which induced the formation of cataract.