6533b821fe1ef96bd127b7c3

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effect of different antioxidants in experimental alcoholic optic neuropathy

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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 -GSH content and Glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity- and lipid peroxidation-derived end products -malondialdehyde (MDA)- were determined. Comparisons between groups were done using Student´s t-test for grouped data and one-way ANOVA. Differences were considered significant at p0.05). Treatment with SAMe slightly improved values of some parameters, although no statistically beneficial (p<0.05 versus control). Conclusion These results support the use of NAC and Ebselen for the treatment of chronic alcohol-induced optic nerve damage.