Radiation cataract formation diminished by vitamin E in rat lenses in vitro.

Eye lens cataract is a late effect of exposure to ionizing radiation. Depending on the dose and quality of radiation impinging on the lens, the development of a clinically discernible cataract usually takes several months in animal models, when the lens is irradiated in situ. However, we have developed a rapid in vitro assay with the isolated intact rat lens to study the effect of radiation and influence of antioxidants as protective agents. After only 24 hr of post-irradiation incubation at 35.5 degrees C in complete medium 199 + 10% foetal calf serum, damage in the form of globular degeneration subcapsularly and 'holes' in the cortical fibre cells is detectable. Doses as low as 0.10 Gy seem to be capable of causing some damage, and vitamin E (2.4 microns) in the medium confers some protection to the irradiated lens.