Preventive effect of aspirin eyeª²drops against diabetic cataract

    GUO Yong, YAN Hong, DING Zhengª²Hua, HA Wenª²Jing

    Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710038, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿AIM: To investigate the role and mechanism of aspirin (Asp) eyeª²drops in preventing diabetic cataract. METHODS: Diabetic cataract was induced by streptozocin (STZ). The diabetic rats (blood glucose>14 mmol/L) were randomly divided into 3 groups: lower concentration aspirin treatment group (0.5 g/L), higher concentration aspirin treatment group (1 g/L) and untreated group . The former two groups received Asp eyeª²drops to the left eye, twice daily. Progression of lens opacification was recorded using slit lamp at regular time intervals. The levels of advanced glycation end products (AGE), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) were determined spectrometically. RESULTS: Asp treatment delayed the progression of cataracts in diabetic rats and the delay was statistically significant from the 6th to the 9th week of diabetes (about 0.5-1 grade, P<0.05 vs untreated diabetic rats). An increase in CAT(about 260%) and GSH(about 20%)was found in the lens of Asp treated diabetic rats (P<0.05 vs untreated diabetic rats). The level of glycated lens protein in the untreated diabetic rats was significant higher as compared with that in Asp treated diabetic rats (28%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Asp can delay the progression of lens opacification only during the earlier stages. The delay may associate with the protective effect of Asp against inactivation of antioxidation enzymes and the formation of AGEs. ......