Acetyl-L-Carnitine Prevents Selenite-Induced Cataractogenesis in an Experimental Animal Model

Purpose: To investigate whether acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) retards selenite-induced cataractogenesis in vivo. Methods: On postpartum day 10, group I pups received intraperitoneal saline and group II and group III pups received subcutaneous sodium selenite; Group III pups also received intraperitoneal ALCAR once daily on postpartum days 9-14. Both eyes of each pup were examined up to postpartum day 30. After sacrifice, extricated pup lenses were analyzed for antioxidant and redox system components. Results: There was dense lenticular opacification in all group II pups, minimal opacification in 33% of group III pups, and no opacification in 67% of group III and in all group I pups. Group II lenses exhibited significantly lower values of antioxidant and redox system components and higher malondialdehyde concentrations than group I or group III lenses. Conclusion: ALCAR prevents selenite-induced cataractogenesis in Wistar rat pups, possibly by inhibiting depletion of antioxidant enzyme and redox system components and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.