The effect of apricots on the experimental cataract model formed by sodium selenite Selim Doganay a,⇑ , Cem Duz b , Penpe Gul Firat a , Cem Cankaya c , Derya Kutukde a , Yılmaz Cigremis d a Inonu University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Malatya, Turkey b Beydagi State Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Malatya, Turkey c Universal Malatya Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Malatya, Turkey d Inonu University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Malatya, Turkey article info Article history: Received 16 July 2012 Accepted 19 December 2012 Available online 21 January 2013 Keywords: Sodium selenite Experimental cataract Antioxidant Apricot Cataract abstract This study was designed in order to investigate whether sun dried apricots have a preventive effect on the experimental cataract model formed by sodium selenite in rats. Fifty-nine Spraque-Dawley rat pups were divided into three groups. Group 1 (control group) consisted of twenty rat pups, born from the rats nourished ad libitum. Group 2 consisted of 18 newborn rats, born from the rats nourished ad libitum with 10% sun dried natural apricots. Group 3 consisted of 21 newborn rats, born from the rats nourished ad libitum. Subcutaneous (30 nmol/gr) sodium selenite injection was applied to all the newborn rats except the control group (Group 1) on postpartum day 10. Cataract development was graded by slit-lamp examination and photography. Encapsulated lenses were analyzed for reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid per oxidation. Lenses were also analyzed for total nitrite (TN). The presence of oxidative stress in selenite cataract development and its prevention by sun dried apricots. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The underlying mechanism of age-related cataracts is not still fully understood. A decrease in antioxidant enzymes in the lens and an increase of free oxygen radicals are the factors that play a role in the formation of age-related cataract formation. In 1990, the World Health Organization reported that for 41.8% of the 38 million blind people, approximately 16 million, the cause of blindness is cataracts (Thylefors et al., 1995). The World Health Organization also reports that in 2020, the number of people blind due to cataracts will reach approximately 40 million. This result means that the amount of surgery which is the only treatment modality will increase threefold. If the onset of cataracts is delayed ten years, the annual number of operations will be expected to de- cline by 45% (West and Valmadrid, 1995; Livingston et al., 1995). Therefore, identifying the risk factors for cataracts is very impor- tant. Nutrition is one of the most important factors that play a role in the formation of age-related cataracts. Not only aging, but also congenital, metabolic, or traumatic factors may cause cataracts formation. Due to the prevalence of senile cataracts, they have the most important socio-economic effects. Until now there has been no research which investigated the antioxidant properties of apricots with regards to cataract formation. Apricots include major provitamin carotenoids. These carotenoids play an important role in protecting cells against dam- age caused by free radicals. It has been shown that beta-carotenoid reduces the incidence of liver and gastrointestinal tract cancers. Beta-carotenoid is transported in plasma by LDL and beta caroten- oid takes a protective role in the prevention of the oxidation of LDL. For this reason, it is hypothesized that beta-carotenoid enriched diets and diets rich in fruit and vegetables decrease the risk of car- diovascular disorders. Carotenoids also take a role in the develop- ment of a lot of tissue, in particular eye and skin. Beta carotenoid rich diets are recommended for delaying aging (de Lourdes Moreno et al., 2012). For this reason, the consumption of the high-carotene content found in apricots is also important for a healthy life. According to our knowledge there are no studies investigating the effect of apricots on eyes. However, many studies have shown that antioxidant properties of vitamins and other metabolites found in apricots prevent cataract formation. To determine the mechanism of age-related cataract formation most commonly used experimental model of cataract is the sele- nite-induced cataract model. This model provides important facil- ities for cataract formation with its quick and reproducible properties (Shearer et al., 1997). The ability of selenite to cause cataracts was first reported by Ostadova et al. (1978). Selenite cataract is usually produced within 4–6 days by single subcutaneous injection of 19–30 lmol/kg body 0278-6915/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.12.061 ⇑ Corresponding author. Address: Inonu University School of Medicine, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, TR-44280 Malatya, Turkey. Tel.: +90 422 341 06 60; fax: +90 422 341 07 28. E-mail address: odoganay@windowslive.com (S. Doganay). Food and Chemical Toxicology 55 (2013) 371–377 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Food and Chemical Toxicology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/foodchemtox