Ultraviolet B-induced corneal and lens damage in guinea pigs on low-ascorbic acid diet

To evaluate ocular morphological response to ultraviolet B (UV-B) exposure in guinea pigs fed with normal and low-ascorbic acid (ASA) diets, 24 guinea pigs were randomly divided into UVR (normal diet + UV-B), LVC (low-ASA diet + UV-B) and CTL (normal diet, without UV-B) groups. The irradiated animals were exposed to 8.2 J/cm(2) of UV-B over 29 weeks. Changes in the cornea and lens were examined using a Scheimpflug camera, specular microscope and histological studies. ASA contents in the plasma, aqueous humor and lens sections were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed low contents of ASA in the plasma, aqueous humor and lens sections in LVC. Both irradiated groups displayed corneal epithelial edema, neovascularization in stroma, increase in corneal thickness, decrease in endothelial density, and lens epithelial damage. No significant morphological differences in cornea and lens were found between guinea pigs fed with low-ASA or normal diet.