Anticataract effects of oral magnesium taurate in rat model of galactose-induced cataract / Nur Adilah Awaludin

Cataract, a condition characterized by loss of visual acuity, results from loss of lens transparency due to the denaturation of lens proteins, crystalline. magnesium deficiency coupled with increased intracellular calcium activates calpain, a protease that denatures crystalline. Dysfunction of membrane associated ATPases and increased lenticular oxidative stress are the underlying mechanisms. Since magnesium and taurine have been shown to delay the development of cataract, we evaluated the anticataract effects of magnesium taurate in galactose-induced cataract both in vivo and in vitro. For in vivo study, forty-five rats of either sex weighing around 80-lO0g were randomly divided into three groups of 15 rats each. Group 1 received normal diet, group 2 received diet containing 30% galactose and orally administered vehicle and group 3 received diet containing 30% galactose with oral administration of magnesium taurate, 2.8 mg/kg body weight, once daily for a period of 21 days. Progression of cataract was evaluated by weekly slit lamp examination was performed during this experimental period. On day 22, lenses were enucleated and were subjected to estimation of lenticular calcium and magnesium content, antioxidant parameters and histopathology. Blood was collected for serum calcium and magnesium estimation.