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.