Peroxide damage to rat lens in vitro: protective effect of dehydroascorbate

The possible protective effect of dehydroascorbate against peroxide damage to rat lens under in vitro organ culture has been studied by measuring the levels of ATP, GSH and the uptakes of rubidium and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid. All these parameters were adversely affected by the presence of 0.5 mM hydrogen peroxide in the culture medium. Dehydroascorbate (1 mM) protected the lens against such effects. The protective effect is tentatively attributable to the utilization of peroxide in peroxidative decarboxylation of the dehydroascorbate, in a manner similar to that of other alpha-ketoacids.