The Protective Effects of L-Carnitine and Vitamin E in Rat Lenses in Irradiation-Induced Oxidative Injury

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant role of L-carnitine (LC) and vitamin E against radiation-induced cataracts in rat lenses after total cranial irradiation with a single 5 Gray (Gy) dose of gamma irradiation. Material and Methods. Thirty two Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the experiment. The control group did not receive LC and vitamin E or irradiation but received both 0.1 ml physiological saline intraperitoneally and sham irradiation. The irradiation (IR) group received 5 Gy gamma irradiation to the total cranium as a single dose plus 0.1 ml physiological saline intraperitoneally. The IR plus vitamin E group received irradiation to total cranium plus 10 mg/kg/day vitamin E intraperitoneally. The IR plus LC group received irradiation to total cranium plus 100 mg/kg/day LC intraperitoneally. Biochemical parameters measured in murine lenses were carried out using spectrophotometric techniques. Results. Total superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA), glutathione- S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GRD) activities, significantly increased in the control, IR plus vitamin E and LC plus IR groups when compared with the IR only group. Lens TSSA and NSSA activities in the control group were significantly increased compared to that of the IR only group, but decreased compared to those of the IR plus vitamin E and IR plus LC groups. Lens xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in the IR group significantly increased compared to those of other groups. Conclusions. Results show that LC and vitamin E prevented oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals generated by ionizing radiation in rat lenses (Adv Clin Exp Med 2011, 20, 1, 15-21).