Abstract
ABSTRACT
The effect of ascorbic acid 2-O-α-glucoside (AA-2G) on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced lens opacity in developing chick embryo was examined and compared with those of ascorbic acid (AsA) and ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA-2P). The opacity was dose-dependently inhibited by a single administration of 10 or 20 μmol/egg of AA-2G and by three repeated administrations of 1, 3 or 10 μmol/egg of AA-2G. AA-2G was the most effective among the three compounds. Glucose did not enhance the preventive effect of AsA against HC-induced opacity, and neither dehydro ascorbic acid nor glucose also prevented HC-induced cataract.
In the histological study, we observed many small vacuoles in the nuclear region of the opaque lens treated with HC. AA-2G inhibited the formation of such vacuoles, an effect closely correlated with the prevention of cataract formation.
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