Photosensitizer-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Retinal Homogenates under Illumination.

Abstract

In this study, the effect of photosensitizers on lipid peroxidation in the retina was investigated. Porcine retinal homogenate was exposed to illumination from a fluorescent lamp with or without photosensitizers such as hematoporphyrin, rose bengal, and fluorescein for 60min. The control, which was exposed to illumination without photosensitizers, did not show a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. However, lipid peroxidation in the homogenates exposed to illumination with photosensitizers increased significantly and in a dose-dependent manner. For concentrations of more than 100μM of all three photosensitizers, lipid peroxidation in the retina homogenates increased to a level approximately 2-3 times higher than that in the sample before illumination, and to a level 10 times higher than that of the control. α-Tocopherol inhibited hematoporphyrin-induced lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner, but superoxide dismutase did not show an inhibitory effect.