PROTECTION AGAINST CATARACT BY PYRUVATE AND ITS OCULAR KINETICS

Pyruvate is an oxyradical scavenger. Because it is a normal tissue met abolite, it can potentially be developed into an anticataract agent. T his study was done to determine pyruvate's in vivo corneal penetration and consequent galactose induced cataract prevention. Pyruvate's anti cataract effects after subcutaneous administration of 0.05 umole pyruv ate/rat was also evaluated in a selenite model of cataract. The cornea l penetration of pyruvate was studied after topical application of a 1 5% eye drop preparation in rabbits and by the use of goat cornea in vi tro. Pyruvate penetration through the cornea in vitro follows a linear course. Its basal aqueous level was 600+/-50 mu M rising to 1,500+/-3 0 mu M after a single drop, with the half life being 21.6 minutes. Suc h an application delayed the formation of galactose cataracts, stoppin g their progression beyond the second stage. Subcutaneous administrati on of pyruvate provided 75% protection against selenite cataracts as w ell.