The Effect of UVB Radiation on the Cultured Rabbit Lens Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT

The present study has been conducted to assess the possible mechanism of cultured rabbit lens epithelial cell(LEC) damage and generation of oxygen free radicals after UVB exposure as well as to investigate the role of antioxidants to the survival rate of epithelial cells. Cultured rabbit LECs were exposed to various fluences of UVB radiation. The release of oxygen radicals(superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide) and the activity of antioxidants(SOD, catalase) were also measured. The protective effects of various antioxidants on LECs damage after UVB exposure were measured. UVB radiation brought about a decrease in the survival fraction of cultured rabbit LECs. Exposure of the cells to fluences of 400 mJ/cm2, 1,600 mJ/cm2 and above 2,400 mJ/cm2 of UVB radiation resulted in 50%, 10%, nearly 0% in cell survival fraction, respectively. Cultured rabbit LECs exposed to UVB and hydrogen peroxide. The activity of intracellular SOD(esp. Cu, Zn-SOD) was significantly increased, but the activity of intracellular catalase was not changed. Antioxidants pretreatment(SOD, catalase, purpurogillin and allopurinol) ameliorated the cytoxoxic effect of UVB on the cultured rabbit LECs. These rusults indicate that the release of oxygen radicals are enhenced by exposure of LECs to UVB radiation. The oxygen radicals seem to play a specific role in the cytotoxic effect of LECs after UVB exposure.