Exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR‐B does not induce apoptosis in the rat lens in vivo during the first 24 hours

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the time evolution of active caspase 3 in the rat lens after in vivo exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR‐B.Methods: Twenty six‐week‐old female albino Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to subthreshold dose (1 kJ/m2) of UVR‐B unilaterally and sacrificed at 1, 8, 16 and 24 h after exposure. Lenses were enucleated and active caspase 3 protein was detected by Western Blot. The time evolution was then plotted as a function of relative mean difference in active caspase 3 between exposed and nonexposed lenses.Results: There is expression of active caspase 3 in both exposed and nonexposed lenses but there is no difference in relative mean difference in active caspase 3 between exposed and nonexposed lenses in all four postexposure groups.Conclusions: Exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR‐B does not induce apoptosis in the rat lens in vivo within first 24 hours. Apoptosis occurs in the rat lens independently from the exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR‐B.