ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Cytoskeletal proteins are deregulated during oxidative stress and cataract formation. However, estrogen which protects against cataract formation and harmful effects of oxidative stress has not been tested on the cytoskeleton of lens epithelial cells (LECs). The current study was undertaken to assess if the protection rendered to LECs by estrogen was mediated by preserving the cytoskeletal proteins. Methods: Oxidative stress was induced by 50 μM of H2O2 in cultured goat LECs (gLECs) and effect of 1 μM 17β-estradiol (E2) was tested. After treatment, morphological analysis of cells was carried out using haematoxylin-eosin staining and cell density was also quantified. Cell viability was determined using Hoechst (Ho), YO-Pro (YP) and propidium iodide (PI). F-actin and vimentin were localized using phalloidin and anti-vimentin antibody, respectively, and viewed under fluorescence microscopy. Vimentin was further analysed at protein level by Western blotting. Results: H2O2 led to increased condensation of nucleus, cell death and apoptosis but these were prevented with pre- and co-treatment of E2 with increase in cell viability (P<0.001). E2 also prevented H2O2 mediated depolymerization of cytoskeleton but was not able to reverse the changes when given after induction of oxidative stress. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed that E2 helped in preventing deteriorating effect of H2O2, inhibited cell death, apoptosis and depolymerisation of cytoskeletal proteins in LECs. However, the exact mechanism by which estrogen renders this protection to cytoskeleton of lens epithelial cells remains to be determined.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cataract is responsible for about 10% blindness among children in India. Etiology of cataract is not well defined especially for childhood cataracts and epidemiological data for Indian population is not available in details. AIM: This study was performed to survey the causes of childhood cataracts and to identify the preventable factors in four western states of India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The present study is a hospital-based, prospective study on 172 consecutive pediatric cataract patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Type of cataract was determined using slit-lamp bio-microscopy or operation microscope after mild general anesthesia especially on very young babies. Other anomalies of eye were determined using appropriate ophthalmic instruments. Parents of the patients were interviewed in their native language using a standardized questionnaire. Biochemical and microbiological tests such as for rubella, reducing sugar and blood glucose were also performed. RESULTS: Out of 172 children, 88.4% had non-traumatic cataract and 11.6% had traumatic cataracts. Among non-traumatic cataracts, 7.2% were hereditary, 4.6% were due to congenital rubella syndrome, 15.1% were secondary and 73.0% were undetermined. In the group of undetermined cases, during pregnancy 67% of the mother had history of illness, and 22% had taken medications during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that nearly 12% of non-traumatic cataract is due to potentially preventable causes. Health education of women to childbearing age and school children can decrease incidence of pediatric cataracts.