The effect of
glutathione (GSH) isopropyl
ester on the progression of X-ray-induced
cataract was investigated in rats. Intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg GSH isopropyl
ester, three times weekly, 1 day after a single irradiation dose delayed the progression of X-ray-induced
cataracts significantly. The amount of non-
protein SH groups and the Na+/K+ ratio in the
lenses of
drug-treated rats were maintained at the normal levels even 27 weeks after irradiation. Posttreatment with the
drug resulted in a significantly lower level of
malondialdehyde in the irradiated
lenses than in the nontreated
lenses. When 500 mg/kg GSH-isopropyl
ester was administered by i.p. injection to normal rats, the GSH-
ester was detected in plasma and aqueous humor after 15 min. In the
lenses of the GSH-isopropyl
ester-injected rats, the GSH level was 120% of that in the non-treated rats after 4 h, suggesting that GSH-isopropyl
ester is transported from the aqueous humor to the lens and there converted to GSH after about 4 h. Our observations lead us to conclude that the delay of X-ray-induced
lens opacity progression is due to maintenance of normal lenticular GSH levels achieved by post-irradiation administration of GSH-isopropyl
ester. However, continuous administration of 100 mg/kg after irradiation had no effect on the progression of
cataracts induced by X-rays.