DESFERAL MN(III) IN THE THERAPY OF DIQUAT-INDUCED CATARACT IN RABBIT

In rabbit lenses subjected to oxidative stress, induced by 1 mm diquat in vitro, there were 7- to 10-fold increases (p < 0.001) in malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, and carbonyl dienes, indicating extensive peroxidation of cellular membrane lipids, and approximately a 60% decrease in reduced glutathione. In the presence of 0.1-5 mm Desferal-Mn(III) these changes were diminished by 50-70%. In an experimental group of 12 rabbits having diquat-induced cataract, Desferal-Mn(III) (5% w v) applied topically as a 50-μl eye drop four times per day and a single intraperitoneal dose of 64 mg/kg body wt daily for 5 weeks (including pretreatment for 1 week) retarded the progression of lens opacities, whereas, in a control group of 6 rabbits treated with the vehicle (0.15 m NaCl) cataract progressed to an advanced grade. Treatment with Desferal-Mn(III) also significantly diminished production of O{dot minus}2 and OH· in the lens, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor, and of H2O2 in the aqueous humor and vitreous humor. It also suppressed lipid peroxidation and oxidation of protein-SH of the lens and restored lenticular glutathione and ascorbate to normal levels. © 1991.