Effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor, AL-1576, on the development of UV-B and X-ray cataract.

The effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor, AL-1576, on the development of UV-B and X-ray-induced cataract was studied with 100 female Brown-Norway rats. Histological studies were made with 32 eyes. A new histological procedure enabled detailed information on UV or X-ray-induced impairment on the lens, as well as on the potential efficiency of anticataract drugs. No definite effect of the aldose reductase inhibitor, AL-1576, on the development of UV or X-ray-induced cataract could be found. It may be concluded that AL-1576 cannot prevent damage caused by irradiation, like that of other oxidative influences. Disadvantageous effects of AL-1576 on the lens could be excluded.