Effect of different antioxidants in experimental alcoholic optic neuropathy

Purpose To establish the possible beneficial effects of three synthetic antioxidants: S-adenosil-L-methionine (SAMe), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and Ebselen in optic nerve damage following chronic ethanol feeding in adult rats. Methods Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats (five groups of four animals each) were fed a liquid, ethanol-containing diet with littermates given isocaloric amounts of ethanol-free diet serving as controls. Antioxidants were administered by dissolving them in the liquid diet at 0.4 mg/ml (SAMe), 0.163 mg/ml (NAC) and 5.33 mg/ml (Ebselen). After 6 weeks, optic nerves were obtained and parameters that are relevant for the modulation of oxidative stress, such as antioxidants …