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The effect of single and repeated UVB radiation on rabbit lens

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Abstract

Background

In our previous investigations, a significant cumulative effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the corneal and aqueous humour metabolic profiles was revealed. The purpose of the present study was to monitor the alterations in the rabbit lenses under the same experimental design and thereby supplement and complete prior findings.

Methods

Albino rabbit eyes were exposed to single (312 nm, 3.12 J/cm2) or repeated (312 nm, 3 × 1.04 J/cm2) UVB irradiations of the same overall doses. Lenticular samples were analysed by high resolution magic angle spinning proton nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS 1H NMR) spectroscopy. Special grouping patterns between the UVB-irradiated and untreated control samples were evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA). Percentage alterations in the lenticular metabolite concentrations from UVR-B exposed rabbits were calculated relative to the levels in the control group.

Results

UVB irradiation of the albino rabbit lenses resulted in a significant decrease in the concentrations of antioxidants (glutathione), osmolytes (taurine, myoinositol) and amino acids (alanine), and a concomitant elevation in the contents of a sugar-related compound, sorbitol. Repeated UVR-B exposure of the rabbit eye had a stronger effect on the lenticular metabolic profile than a single irradiation of the same overall dose.

Conclusions

This study reveals the cumulative effect of repeated UVB irradiations, and shows that even a 48-hour interval between subsequent UVR-B exposures is not sufficient for the healing processes to restore lenticular integrity.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The Norwegian Quota Program, grants from the Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, a grant from The Norwegian Research Council, Grant No. 304/06/1379 from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, and Grant AVOZ50390512 from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

    Miroslav Fris & Anna Midelfart

  2. Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Science of Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

    Jitka Čejková

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), MTFS, 7489, Trondheim, Norway

    Miroslav Fris

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  1. Miroslav Fris
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  2. Jitka Čejková
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  3. Anna Midelfart
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Correspondence to Miroslav Fris.

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Fris, M., Čejková, J. & Midelfart, A. The effect of single and repeated UVB radiation on rabbit lens. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 246, 551–558 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0747-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0747-6

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