IONIC STATE AND ATPASE ACTIVITY DURING SELENITE CATARACTOGENESIS IN WISTAR RATS
JOE PRASAD MATHEW *
PG-DEPTT. OF ZOOLOGY, S.H. COLLEGE, THEVARA, KOCHI-686013, INDIA
V.C. THOMAS *
PG-DEPTT OF ZOOLOGY ST BERCHMAN'S COLLEGE, CHANGANACHIERRY-686 101, INDIA
ISSAC THOMAS *
PG-DEPTT OF ZOOLOGY ST BERCHMAN'S COLLEGE, CHANGANACHIERRY-686 101, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Selenite cataract is an experimental model cataract which can be produced by administering Sodium selenite in microgram quantities subcutaneously in suckling rat pups. During the present study, sodium, postassium, calcium and magnesium in the lens were measured at various stages after subcutaneous selenite administration in multiple low (chronic) and single high (acute) dosages in Wistar rats. Since selenite is a potent oxidant of membrane SH-groups, the activity of the main transport enzyme ATPases were determined alongwith the ion analysis to understand the role of oxidative damage and the alteration of membrane permeability and cation transport in the rat lens during cataractogenesis.