Selenium Supplementation Can Slow the Development of Naphthalene Cataract

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of selenium supplementation on the progress of naphthalene cataract.

Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: normal control, naphthalene control and selenium-supplemented groups (Selenium I, II and III, which were orally administrated with selenium at doses of 0.0104 mg/kg, 0.0208 mg/kg and 0.0416 mg/kg, respectively). All the intervention groups were orally administered with 10% naphthalene solution for 5 weeks. The lens density of each group was determined by photography. Moreover, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the lens, erythrocyte and plasma was investigated. In addition, lens glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyl radical levels were evaluated. Selenium level in aqueous humor was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results: The maximum, mean and minimum densities of lens opacities were lower in Selenium group II and III than those in naphthalene group. The maximum density of the lens increased more slowly in Selenium group I than that in naphthalene controls. In selenium-supplemented groups, blood and lens GPx activities as well as aqueous humor selenium level increased significantly. Selenium supplementation also significantly ameliorated the decrease in GSH level and increase in MDA and hydroxyl radical levels in the lens of naphthalene-treated rats.

Conclusions: Selenium supplementation could slow the development of naphthalene cataract possibly by attenuating the oxidative stress in the lens.

Keywords::

• Selenium
• Naphthalene cataract
• Age-related cataract
• Glutathione peroxidase
• Atomic absorption spectrometry

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to Prof. Guotong Xu for his kindly help on this manuscript. Xiangjia Zhu designed the study, carried out the laboratory analyses and data analyses, and drafted the manuscript. Yi Lu conceived the study, participated in its design and coordination as a research guide and senior author, and helped in setting up laboratory method protocols. Both authors have read and approved the final manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81070717).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.