Disulfonic stilbene prevents selenite-induced cataract in rat pup lens

It is known that the subcutaneous injection of a single dose of sodium sele nite into suckling rats results in the development of large nuclear opaciti es. The inh-acellular transport of selenite in various cells, except lens c ells, occurs via the Cl/HCO3 exchanger. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible role of the anion-exchange inhibitor, disulfonic s tilbene (SITS), in the selenite-induced catarogenesis in the rat pups. Wist ar albino rats (8-10 d old) were separated into three groups: one control a nd two experimental. The first experimental group was injected subcutaneous ly with a single dose of 30 nmol sodium selenite/g body weight. The second experimental group was injected with a single dose of 10 nmol SITS/g body w eight 15 min before the same dose selenite injection. The control group did not have any injections. The stage of cataract development was examined on d 7 postinjection with slit-lamp photographs. In SITS pretreated group, al l eyes remained transparent (considered as stage 0), whereas in the selenit e-injected group, the animals did have different stage of nuclear cataract; 8 animals have stage 5, 10 animals have stage 4, and 4 animals have stage 3. A pretreatment of SITS completely prevented cataract formation of the se lenite-induced cataract model in rat pups.