[Effect of cigarette smoking on lipid peroxidation and antioxidation in rat lens]

The effects of cigarette smoking on lipid peroxidation, the activities of antioxidases, and the level of non-protein sulphydryl group in the rat lenses were investigated. The results showed that compared with the control group, MDA contents were significantly higher, while the wet weight of lenses, the concentration of non-protein sulphydryl group, the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased in the smoking rats. This study suggested that cigarette smoking might be involved in the development of cataract.