An Experimental Research Of The Inhibition Of Estrogen Against Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Rat Lens Epithelial Cell Apoptosis

Objective In this experiment, we made a research on the presence of estrogen's inhibition of the hydrogen peroxide-induced rat lens epithelial cell (LEC) apoptosis.Method 120 lenses were derived from normal adult female and maleSprsgue-Dawley rats. 60 lenses from female rats, 60 lenses from male rats. The transparent lenses were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal control group, the H₂O₂ (500μM)treatment group, the H₂O₂(500μM) plus 17beta-estrodial (17β-E₂)(8μM) treatment group, and the 17β-E₂ (8μM)treatment group. During culturing, lens opacity was detected with microscope. At the time of 24 , 48 and 72 hours, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling(TUNEL) assay was used to assess the extent of cell apoptosis in treated cells. The ultrastruture of apoptosic cell was assessed with transmission electron microscope.Results H₂O₂ (500μM) could induce rat lens in culture to develop opacityand the opacity was enhanced as culturing proceeded. 17/3-E2 (8uM) could reduce the opacity of female rat lens treated with H2O2 (PO.05), but not male ones(P>0.05).17/3-E2 could protect female rat lens against oxidative stress and inhibit I^CVinduced LEC apoptosis. In the female rat lens, there were significant differences of cell apoptosis rate between J^CVtreated and H2O2 plus 17j8-E2-treated group(P<0.05), but not male(P>0.05). There were no differences between 17j8-E2-treated and normal control group(P>0.05). We detected with transmission electron microscope that most cells in the H2