BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES INDUCED BY PYRPHENOXONE IN THE LENS OF RABBITS AND RATS

The xanthomatine analogue, pyrphenoxone, which is known to diminish th e incidence of cataract in animals and in man, was applied in two diff erent in vivo models of cataract induced in rabbits by tryptophan-free dietary regimen and in rats by hypergalactosemic diet. The drug was a lso applied at different concentrations in an in vitro model of catara ct. It was found that soluble proteins and sulphurated amino acids of the lens in all in vivo and in vitro models of cataract were higher af ter pyrphenoxone was applied, Furthermore, the drug treatment was foll owed by a dose-dependent increase in reduced glutathione content in th e lens of rabbits and rats. The same was found in the in vitro model o f cataract. These results suggest that pyrphenoxone may act by inducin g various biochemical changes that lead to a protection of lens agains t oxidative processes.