The present study was undertaken to assess whether
A-3922, a dihydrobenzofuran derivative that possesses antioxidative effects, had any preventive effect on the onset and/or progression of diabetic
cataract. Male Wistar rats were received a bolus
intravenous injection of
streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and were given 5%
glucose in
drinking water for 10 weeks. The diabetic rats were divided into two groups and treated with 30 mg/kg/d
A-3922 or vehicle during the experimental period. The opacities of eye
lenses were observed by using both our original device and a
slit lamp microscope. The
lens opacities were initially detected as early as the 2nd week and the
cataracts were developed in similar fashion in both A-3922-treated and untreated diabetic rats until 7th week, suggesting that
A-3922 did not show any appreciable effect on the onset of diabetic
cataract. In the later period (8th week or later), however, progression of
cataract was retarded and significant reductions in both the total
cataract score and the degree of opacity were apparently observed on 10th week of A-3922-treated diabetic rats. These results suggest that
A-3922 can delay the progression but not the onset of diabetic
cataract, and it has a possibility to be a candidate for drugs of
cataract associated with diabetes.