Exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B does not induce apoptosis in the rat lens in vivo during the first 24 hours.

Abstract

Purpose : The aim of this study is to investigate the time evolution of active caspase 3 in the rat lens after in vivo exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B.

Methods : Twenty six-week-old female albino Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to subthreshold dose (1 kJ/m²) of UVR-B unilaterally and sacrificed at 1, 8, 16 and 24 hours after exposure. Lenses were enucleated and active caspase 3 protein was detected by Western Blot. The time evolution was then plotted as a function of relative mean difference in active caspase 3 between exposed and nonexposed lenses.

Results : There is an expression of active caspase 3 in both exposed and nonexposed lenses but there is no difference in relative mean difference in active caspase 3 between exposed and nonexposed lenses in all four postexposure groups.

Conclusions : Exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B does not induce apoptosis in the rat lens in vivo within first 24 hours. Apoptosis occurs in the rat lens independently from the exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.