GLUCOCORTICOID-INDUCED CATARACT OF THE DEVELOPING CHICK-EMBRYO PREVENTION BY PROPYLENE-GLYCOL

When 0.25 mu mol of hydrocortisone succinate sodium (HC) was administe red to 15-day-old hen's fertile eggs, almost all lenses of the embryos became cataractous with stages IV-V (>90%) 48 h after the treatment. However, a triple application of propylene glycol (1.5 mmol/egg) at 3, 10 and 20 h after HC treatment effectively prevented the HC-induced c ataract formation (I: 84%, II: 12%, III: 4%, IV-V: 0%) and repressed t he decline of glutathione and the elevation of lipid peroxide in the l ens caused by HC. Propylene glycol is metabolized to lactate and pyruv ate producing NADH and is known to possess protective activities again st X-ray irradiation. These properties have modified the HC-induced ef fects and decreased the production of oxidative stress in ovo, protect ing the lens from losing its transparency after HC administration. Fur thermore, a marked elevation of glucose in cataractous lenses noted af ter HC administration was not directly involved in opacification of th e lenses.