ABSTRACT
Objective To detect the changes of soluble αB-crystallin in X-ray irradiated rat lens,and to explore the potential role of αB-crystallin in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced cataract.Methods The radiation cataract model was established with the accelerator linear in male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats.The rats were divided into normal control group,experimental control group and X-irradiated group(the doses were 5,15,and 25 Gy,respectively).The rats were killed at 3 morlths post-irradiation,and the lenses were carefully isolated and homogenized.The protein changes of αB-crystallin in lens supernatant were measured by Western blotting.Results Typical radiation-induced cataract was observed in 15 and 25 Gy groups,while the lenses of the normal control group,experimental control group and the 5 Gy irradiation group remained transparent.The αB-crystallin protein level was significandy decreased in a dose-dependent manner(5 Gy group:0.871±0.085;15 Gy group:0.643±0.096;25 Gy group:0.338±0.160;F=40.764,P＜0.05).Conclusions The decreased expression of the molecular chaperone αB-crystallin in X-irradiated rat lens indicates its important role in the pathogenesis of irradiation cataract.