Biomaterial Database

Chromium-picolinate induced ocular changes: Protective role of ascorbic acid. 2006

Amany A Mahmoud, and Sawsan H Karam, and Mosaad A Abdel-Wahhab

Biochemistry Department, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt.

Chromium-picolinate (Cr-picolinate) is a popular nutritional supplement; however its safety has been questioned with regard to its ability to act as a clastogen. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the biochemical, histological and morphological changes in the cornea and lens following oral administration of Cr-picolinate and the possible protective effect of Vitamin C. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups included the control group, the groups treated with Cr-picolinate (0.8 and 1.5 mg/100 g b.w.) alone or in combination with Vitamin C (0.5 mg/100 g b.w.) for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the high dose of Cr-picolinate induced a significant decrease in SOD, GSH, Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase levels, and a significant increase in MDA level. Severe morphological and histological changes in the cornea and lens accompanied with a decrease in the total soluble protein of the lens homogenate and changes in the crystalline fractions in lens. Vitamin C supplementation succeeded to restore these changes to great extent. It could be concluded that consumption of Cr-picolinate for a long time induced several hazards to cornea and lens. Supplementation with extra amounts of Vitamin C may be useful to restrain the Cr-picolinate induced ocular changes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007908	Lens, Crystalline	A transparent, biconvex structure of the EYE, enclosed in a capsule and situated behind the IRIS and in front of the vitreous humor (VITREOUS BODY). It is slightly overlapped at its margin by the ciliary processes. Adaptation by the CILIARY BODY is crucial for OCULAR ACCOMMODATION.	Eye Lens,Lens, Eye,Crystalline Lens
D008297	Male		Males
D008315	Malondialdehyde	The dialdehyde of malonic acid.	Malonaldehyde,Propanedial,Malonylaldehyde,Malonyldialdehyde,Sodium Malondialdehyde,Malondialdehyde, Sodium
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D010848	Picolinic Acids	Compounds with general formula C5H4N(CO2H) derived from PYRIDINE, having a carboxylic acid substituent at the 2-position.	Acids, Picolinic
D003315	Cornea	The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Corneas
D005123	Eye	The organ of sight constituting a pair of globular organs made up of a three-layered roughly spherical structure specialized for receiving and responding to light.	Eyes
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine
D000254	Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase	An enzyme that catalyzes the active transport system of sodium and potassium ions across the cell wall. Sodium and potassium ions are closely coupled with membrane ATPase which undergoes phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, thereby providing energy for transport of these ions against concentration gradients.	ATPase, Sodium, Potassium,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Sodium, Potassium,Na(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase,Na(+)-K(+)-Transporting ATPase,Potassium Pump,Sodium Pump,Sodium, Potassium ATPase,Sodium, Potassium Adenosinetriphosphatase,Sodium-Potassium Pump,Adenosine Triphosphatase, Sodium, Potassium,Na(+) K(+)-Transporting ATPase,Sodium, Potassium Adenosine Triphosphatase,ATPase Sodium, Potassium,ATPase, Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging,Adenosinetriphosphatase Sodium, Potassium,Pump, Potassium,Pump, Sodium,Pump, Sodium-Potassium,Sodium Potassium Exchanging ATPase,Sodium Potassium Pump
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia