Effect of electroacupuncture to prevent selenite-induced cataract in Wistar rats

• Autor(a) principal: Cariello, Angelino Julio [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2006
• Outros Autores: Casanova, Fábio Henrique [UNIFESP], Lima Filho, Acácio Alves de Souza [UNIFESP], Juliano, Yara [UNIFESP], Tabosa, Angela Maria Florencio [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-27492006000300003; http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/3069
• topic: Cataract; Antioxidants; Electroacupuncture; Free radicals; Rats, Wistar; Catarata; Antioxidantes; Eletro-acupuntura; Radicais livres; Ratos Wistar

PURPOSE: To investigate whether electroacupuncture can prevent selenite-induced cataract in an experimental model. METHODS: Fifty Wistar rat pups were randomized into 5 groups of 10 animals: Group 1 (control), no procedure was performed; Group 2 (selenite), sodium selenite (30 micromoles/kg body weight) was injected subcutaneously between postpartum days 10 to 12; Group 3 (anesthesia) received the same dose of selenite and underwent ether inhalation anesthesia during 10 minutes daily for one week; Group 4 (electroacupuncture) underwent the same procedure of Group 3, but also receiving electroacupuncture (2 Hz, 50 mA) applied to the Neiguan (PC6) and Guangming (GB37) acupoints during the anesthesia period; and Group 5 (Sham) underwent the same procedures of Group 4, but needles were applied to non-acupoints. The development of cataract was assessed one week later, and its density was graded by slit lamp biomicroscopy. RESULTS: All control rats lenses (Group 1) were clear. Groups 2, 3 and 5 rats developed more severe cataract or complete opacification. In Group 4 (electroacupuncture), 45% of eyes did not develop cataract while thirty per cent developed less severe cataract than Groups 2, 3 and 5. The between-group difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Lens opacification grade in Groups 1 and 4 was lower than in the Groups 2, 3 and 5 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture effectively decreased selenite-induced cataract formation rate in pup rats when needles were applied at specific acupoints.