Experimental Study On The Preventive And Therapeutical Effects Of N-acetylcysteine On Ultraviolet Ray Induced Rats Cataract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of NAC on the rat lens expression of aquaporin-1during ultraviolet radiation injury, and also the preventive and therapeuticaleffect of NAC on the rat lens, to discuss the possible mechanism.MethodsTransparent lens of health SD rats were randomly divided into3groups,the model group with ultraviolet ray, the drug group add in300μmol/L NACbesides the ultraviolet radiation, the control group do not take above measures.Respectively cultivate3,12and24hours to observe the degree of lensopacification; the lens hydration degree; HE dyeing to observe the lens generalchange in shape; Western blotting to observe the levels of AQP1proteinexpression;The content of the Glutathione（GSH) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA)were measured by spectrophotometer.ResultsAfter the UVB irradiating the degree of lens opacification and hydrationwere aggravated, and there were changes in general shape. The control grouphigh express AQP1; the model group low express AQP1; compared with modelgroup, the drug group high express AQP1. By statistical analysis, between themodel group and the control group, the expression of AQP1has significant difference (P <0.01);between the model group and the drug group, theexpression of AQP1also has significant difference (at3hoursP<0.05,while at12、24hours P<0.01).At any point the model group lens GSHdecreased, MDA content increased，the drug group compared with the modelgroup the content of GSH is higher，and MDA is lower. The comparison betweeneach group have significant difference（P<0.05）.Conclusions1. Ultraviolet ray have obvious damage effect on lens and epithelial cells,and it can reduce AQP1expression in the lens epithelial cells, butincrease water content.2. AQP1is involved in the development of cataract, and it has beenreduced before lens become opacified.3. NAC can reduce the damage caused by ultraviolet ray by inhibiting thereduction of AQP1.4. NAC has a certain deferred and preventive effect to the occurrence anddevelopment of cataract.