Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of verapamilon lenticular calcium, magnesium, iron and on radiation-induced cataract in rats. Methods: Thirty-seven, female, Wistar Albino rats, weighing 180–230 g were randomly grouped as follows: control group (10 rats), radiation group (13 rats) and radiation-verapamil group (14 rats). Both radiation and radiation-verapamil groups received 5 Gy radiation to the whole body in a single dose, including both eyes within the irradiation volume; in addition the verapamil group received daily subcutaneous injections of 8 mg/kg verapamil starting on the first day of radiation. At the end of an 8-week experimental period, the animals were killed by decapitation. Lenticular calcium, magnesium, and iron levels were studied. Results: The mean lens calcium level for the radiation group was significantly higher than that for the control and radiation-verapamil groups and, there was no significant difference between the control and radiation-verapamil groups. The mean lens magnesium value for the radiation group was significantly higher than that for the control group. In the radiation-verapamil group the mean lens magnesium content was significantly lower than that for the radiation group. The iron level in the radiation group was significantly higher than that for the radiation-verapamil group. Conclusions: The lens calcium, magnesium and iron contents increased after radiation exposure. Verapamil treatment significantly reduced the increase in the lenticular content of calcium, magnesium and iron, indicating a probable protective effect of verapamilin radiation-induced cataract formation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wood PJ, Hirst DG. Calcium antagonists as radiation modifiers: site specifity in relation to tumor response. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1989; 16: 1141–4.
Worgul BV, Merriam GR Jr, Szechter A, Sirinivasan D. Lens epitelium and radiation cataract. I. preliminary studies. Arch Ophthalmol 1976; 94: 996–9.
Lipman RM, Tripathi BJ, Tripathi RC. Cataracts induced by microwave and ionizing radiation. Surv Ophthalmol 1988; 33: 200–10.
Pierce GN, Afzal N, Kroger EA., Lockwood MK, Kutryk MJB, Eckhert CD, Dhalla NS. Cataract formation is prevented by administration of verapamil to diabetic rats. Endocrinology 1989; 125: 730–5.
Çekiç O, Bardak Y. Lenticular calcium, magnesium, and iron levels in diabetic rats and verapamil effect. Ophthalmic Res 1998; 30: 107–12.
Hightower KR, Reddy VN. Calcium content and distribution in human cataract. Exp Eye Res 1982; 34: 413–21.
Finkelstein E. Nifedipin for radiaton oesophagitis. Lancet 1986; 24: 1205–6.
Floersheim GL. Calcium antagonists protect mice against lethal doses of ionizing radiation. Br J Radiol 1992; 65: 1025–9.
Chaylack LT. Clasification of human cataracts. Arch Ophthalmol 1978; 96: 838–92.
Kickbrigh GF. Atamic absorbtion spectroscopy: Element analysis of biological materials. Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency. Technichal report series No 197. 1980: 141–63.
Borchman D, Paterson CA, Delamere NA. Oxidative inhibition of Ca2+−ATPase in the rabbit lens.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1989; 30: 1633–7.
Kinoshita JH. Mechanisms initiating cataract formation. Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1974; 13: 713– 24.
Hightower KR, Giblin FJ, Reddy VN. Changes in the distribution of lens calcium during development of X−ray cataract. Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1983; 24: 1188–93.
Paterson CA, Zeng J, Husseini Z, Borchman D, Delamere NA, Garland D, Jimenez−Asensio J. Calcium ATPase activity and membrane structure in clear and cataractous human lenses. Curr Eye Res 1997; 16: 333–8.
Duncan G, Williams MR, Riach RA. Ca cell signalling and cataract. Prog Retin Eye Res 1994; 13: 623–52.
Garner MH, Spector A. ATP hydrolysis kinetics by Na−K ATPase in cataract. Exp Eye Res 1986; 42: 339–48.
Hightower KR, Reddy VN. Ca induced cataract. Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1982; 22: 263–7.
Jedziniak JA, Kinoshita JH, Yates EM, Hocker LO, Benedek GB. Calcium−induced aggregation of bovine lens alpha crystallins. Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1972; 11: 905–15.
Hightower KR, Riley MV, Mc Cready J. Regional distribution of calcium in alloxan diabetic rabbit lenses. Curr Eye Res 1989; 8: 517–21.
Hightower KR, Dering M. Development and revearsal calcium induced opacities in vitro. Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1984; 25: 1108–11. 21.Wallach S, Bellavia JV, Reizenstein DL, Gamponia PJ. Tissue disturbution and transport of electrolytes mg and Ca in hypermagnesemia. Metabolism 1967; 16: 451–64.
Baldwin GF, Bentley PJ. Some observations of mg metabolism of the amphibian lens. Exp Eye Res 1980; 31: 665–71.
Burge WE. Analyses of the ash of the normal and cataractous lens. Arch Ophthalmol 1990; 38: 435–50.
Ringvold A, Sagen E, Bjerve KS, Folling I. The calcium and magnesium content of the human human lens and aqueous humour: A study in patients with hypocalcemic and senile cataract. Acta Ophthalmol 1988; 66: 153–6.
Yugay MT, Pereira PC, Leiria F, Mota MC. Oxidative damage to lens membranes induced by metal−catalyzed systems. Ophthalmic Res 1996; 28: 92–6.
Garland D, Zigler JS, Kinoshita J. Structural changes in bovine lens crystallins induced by ascorbate, metal and oxygen. Arch Biochem Biophys 1986; 251: 771–6.
Wolff SP. Diabetes mellitus and free radicals: Free radicals, transition metals and oxidative stress in the aetiology of diabetes mellitus and complications. Br Med Bull 1993; 49: 642–52.
Archer DB, Amoaku WMK, Gardiner TA. Radiation retinopathyclinical, histopathological, ultrastructural and experimental correlations. Eye 1991; 5: 239–51.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bardak, Y., Çekiç, O., Totan, Y. et al. Effect of verapamil on lenticular calcium, magnesium and iron in radiation exposed rats. Int Ophthalmol 22, 285–288 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006335826463
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006335826463