ANTIOXIDANTS AND CATARACT - (CATARACT INDUCTION IN SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND APPLICATION TO TERRESTRIAL AGING CATARACT)

The effect of several antioxidants and cysteine-elevating precursor dr ugs (prodrugs) was tested on lens damage occurring after in vitro expo sure to low levels of Co-60-gamma-irradiation, to simulate in vitro th e exposure to radiation in vivo of (1) astronauts (2) jet crews (3) mi litary radiation accident personnel. Tocopherol (100 mu M), ascorbic a cid (1mM), R-alpha-lipoic acid (1mM), and taurine (0.5 mM) protected a gainst radiation-associated protein leakage. MTCA and ribocysteine pro tected lenses against opacification, LDH and protein leakage, indicati ng that antioxidants and prodrugs of cysteine appear to offer protecti on against lens damage caused by low level radiation.