Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the protective effects of intact vitreous gel on the lens after pharmacologic vitreolysis and hyperoxia exposure in rats in vivo. METHODS: Eyes of Sprague-Dawley rats were induced to posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) by pharmacologic vitreolysis, and the rats with and without PVD were treated with hyperoxia 3 h per day for 5 months. Lens transparency was monitored by a slit-lamp biomicroscope. A series of biochemical measurements were made in extracts of the lens cortex and nucleus. Ascorbate levels were measured in the aqueous and vitreous humors. RESULTS: No significant differences in lens transparency or morphology were observed in all groups, and no significant biochemical changes were observed in the cortex or nucleus of lenses of the PVD group. In the lens nucleus, the values of water-soluble protein concentration in PVD + hyperoxia group were lower than that of the PVD group. The levels of water-soluble proteins, glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate decreased in the hyperoxia group with an intact vitreous body. Vitreolysis enhanced the effect of hyperoxia, decreasing soluble protein, GSH and ascorbate below the levels seen in eyes with vitreolysis alone. The levels of antioxidants and soluble proteins were lower in the lens nucleus, and the effects of vitreolysis plus hyperoxia were more significant in the nucleus. Hyperoxia and hyperoxia plus vitreolysis reduced catalase activity and increased oxidized GSH to a greater extent in the lens cortex, although these treatments increased protein-GSH mixed disulfides in both regions. Long-term hyperoxia also lowered ascorbate levels in the vitreous and aqueous humors, an effect that was enhanced by vitreolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to excess molecular oxygen produces significant oxidative damage to the lens, especially the lens nucleus. These effects were enhanced by pharmacologic vitreolysis, indicating that intact vitreous gel protects the lens from oxidative damage.