Abstract
ABSTRACT
Troglitazone is a new antidiabetic drug with a combined chemical structure of thiazolidinedione and α-tocopherol like structure (chroman ring). We evaluated the effect of troglitazone on the morphological and biochemical changes in rat lenses cultured with galactose. Culturing in 30 mM galactose medium for 48 hrs resulted in vacuole formation in the cortex of lens equator (early phase of cataract). A significant amount of galactitol accumulation and lipid peroxide formation were also observed in lenses exposed to galactose. These morphological and biochemical changes associated with galactose were inhibited by 2 or 20 μM troglitazone present in the galactose medium. These results confirm the previous finding that troglitazone delayed the formation of cataract in rats fed a galactose diet. The anticataract effect of troglitazone was discussed in terms of antioxidant property of the drug.
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