Inhibition of selenite‐induced cataract by caffeine

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Purpose: The objective of the investigation was to study possible inhibition of oxidative stress and cataract formation by caffeine in vivo. Methods: Oxidative stress and consequent cataract formation was induced by intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of sodium selenite (1.16 lmol) to Sprague-Dawley rat pups on day 9 postnatally. In experiments designed to inhibit such cataract formation, the pups were pretreated intraperitoneally with caffeine (5.15 lmol), starting 2 days prior to the administration of selenite and continuing such treatment till day 21, when the experiments were terminated. The extent of tissue damage caused by the selenite was assessed biochemically by measurements of the levels of GSH and ATP in the isolated lenses. Cataract formation and its prevention were monitored by examining the eye with pen light illumination and subsequent photography of the isolated lenses. Results: Injection of selenite led to a significant loss of lens clarity because of cataract formation. In the group treated with caffeine, the formation of cataract was significantly prevented. In the caffeine-untreated group, the levels of lens GSH and ATP were substantially lower than in the caffeine-treated group. The levels of GSH decreased from a value of $ 8.2 lmol to $ 2 lmol ⁄ g wet weight of the lens. The content of ATP decreased from $ 2.5 lmol to about $ 1 lmol. In the case of caffeine-treated group, these decreases were significantly prevented from taking place, the corresponding values of GSH and ATP being $ 5.8 and $ 1.6 lmol ⁄ g, respectively. Conclusion: Over all, the results suggest that caffeine can exert a significant preventive effect against cataract formation induced by agents generating reactive oxygen species such as sodium selenite.

UV-Induced Apoptosis in Lens: Prevention by Caffeine

“…24 Although polyphenolic constituents such as the bioflavonoids 25 present in the tea leaves could be one class of active ingredients involved in the observed prevention, we further hypothesized that caffeine known to be present in significant amounts in the tea leaves could have been another important constituent involved. In conformity with this hypothesis, direct administration of caffeine has now been shown to prevent oxidative stress and cataract formation in vitro 26 as well as in vivo using the selenite 27 and sugar (galactose) cataract models. 28,29 Although the initial effect of the antioxidants is to chemically neutralize the oxygen free radicals and consequently prevent depletion of the tissue antioxidant reserves such as of ascorbate and glutathione, as well as inhibit oxidative degradation of tissue lipids, proteins, and DNA, etc., such neutralization could not be complete.…”

Cassia tora leaves modulates selenite cataract by enhancing antioxidant status and preventing cytoskeletal protein loss in lenses of Sprague Dawley rat pups

“…GGCS is the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH biosynthesis and regulation of its activity is critical for GSH homeostasis (Murray and Rathbun, 1990). Age related cataract is associated with diminished level and activity of GSH and GGCS (Rathbun and Holleschau, 1992;Varma et al, 2010). In the study, a decrease in level of GSH and GGCS was found in selenite induced group.…”

Pharmacokinetics of Caffeine in the Lens Capsule/Epithelium After Peroral Intake: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

“…However, using a similar caffeine dose for peroral intake, Natella et al 40 demonstrated that acute peroral caffeine consumption increases the antioxidant capacity of plasma. Besides evidence of the protective effect of caffeine against cataract development in experimental studies, [1][2][3][4][5][6][8][9][10] epidemiologic studies support that coffee consumption prevents cataract. 7,11 Despite regular caffeine consumption (Table 1) all patients analyzed in this study had developed cataract.…”