Protective role of intraperitoneally administered vitamins C and E and selenium on the levels of lipid peroxidation in the lens of rats made diabeticwith streptozotocin

The aim of this work was to determine the protective effects of intraperito neally administered vitamins C and E and selenium on the lipid peroxidation (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (rGSH) activit ies in the lens of rats induced diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ). Lenses in the diabetic control group had a slightly higher mean level of MDA compa red with lenses of the vitamin E and selenium groups, although the mean lev els of MDA were significantly lower in control, combination, and vitamin C groups than in the diabetic control group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). However, MDA levels were significantly lower in vitamin C, vitamin E, and combinati on groups than in controls (p < 0.01). The GSH-Px activities of lenses were significantly higher in vitamin C-, vi tamin E- and selenium-injected groups than that in the diabetic control gro up (p < 0.01), whereas, the activity of GSH-Px was significantly lower in t he diabetic control group than in the control group. Ln addition, the rGSH content was seen to decrease only in the vitamin C group compared to both c ontrol and diabetic control groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results from these experiments indicate that vitamins C and E and selenium can protect the lens against oxidative damage, but the e ffect of vitamin C appears to be much greater than that of vitamin E and se lenium.