LENS OPACIFICATION BY ANTIESTROGENS - TAMOXIFEN VS ICI-182,780

The antioestrogen, tamoxifen, blocks volume-regulated chloride channel s and reduces transparency in bovine lenses maintained in vitro. In co ntrast to tamoxifen, the sterodial antioestrogen, ICI 182780, did not block volume-regulated chloride currents in three cultured cell lines and required 10 fold higher concentration to induce significant opacif ication of bovine lenses maintained in vitro. These data suggest that ocular toxic side effects will be minimized by use of the steroidal (I CI 182780) rather than nonsteroidal antioestrogens (tamoxifen).