Abstract
Oxidative stress is believed to be associated with both postmenopausal disorders and cataract development. Previously, we have demonstrated that rosmarinic and sinapic acids, which are diet-derived antioxidative phenolic acids, counteracted some disorders induced by estrogen deficiency. Other studies have shown that some phenolic acids may reduce cataract development in various animal models. However, there is no data on the effect of phenolic acids on oxidative stress markers in the lenses of estrogen-deficient rats. The study aimed to investigate whether administration of rosmarinic acid and sinapic acid affects the antioxidative abilities and oxidative damage parameters in the lenses of estrogen-deficient rats. The study was conducted on three-month-old female Wistar rats. The ovariectomized rats were orally treated with rosmarinic acid at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg or sinapic acid at doses of 5 and 25 mg/kg, for 4 weeks. The content of reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione and amyloid β1-42, as well as products of protein and lipid oxidation, were assessed. Moreover, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and some glutathione-related enzymes in the lenses were determined. Rosmarinic and sinapic acids in both doses resulted in an increase in the GSH content and glutathione reductase activity. They also improved parameters connected with protein oxidation. Since GSH plays an important role in maintaining the lens transparency, the increase in GSH content in lenses after the use of rosmarinic and sinapic acids seems to be beneficial. Therefore, both the investigated dietary compounds may be helpful in preventing cataract.
Highlights
Cataract, a visual impairment characterized by opacification of the lens, may be classified as an age-related disorder
The meta-analysis from 2013 [3] showed that hormone replacement therapy reduces the risk of this disease and in vitro studies demonstrated the protective effect of estradiol against oxidative stress in the epithelial cells of the lens [4,5]
The administration of rosmarinic acid or sinapic acid in both doses did not lead to any changes in the average mass of the lens or in the content of soluble protein of the lenses compared to ovariectomized control rats
Summary
A visual impairment characterized by opacification of the lens, may be classified as an age-related disorder. Population-based studies indicate that lens opacities occur more often in women than in men [1,2]. Estrogen deficiency occurs commonly in elderly women, which might suggest a link between this condition and cataract development, the data on the effect of estrogen on the opacity of the lens is contradictory. The meta-analysis from 2013 [3] showed that hormone replacement therapy reduces the risk of this disease and in vitro studies demonstrated the protective effect of estradiol against oxidative stress in the epithelial cells of the lens [4,5]. There was a report suggesting that, in the experimental animals exposed to radiation, administration of estradiol may protect against lens opacity [6], other reports showed that treatment with estradiol may induce cataract [7,8]. The role of estrogens in cataract development and cataract dependence on gender has been presented by Zetterberg and Celojevic in a comprehensive review [9]
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