Changes in Biomakers of Ocular Pressure and Oxidative Stress in Aqueous Humour of Honey Fed Rats
A. E. Ojieh¹, I. E. Awire²*, P. E. Awhin² and H. N. Madojemu²¹Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka Nigeria.
²Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka Nigeria.
Abstract: Fructose has been reported to increase the concentrations of solutes in eye humour. Honey has been observed to contain high amount of fructose. Whether honey displays similar effect in the eye is not clearly documented. Therefore, this study attempts to assess the concentrations of the biomarkers for ocular pressure and oxidative stress in the eye humour of honey fed rats. Forty nine (49), ten weeks old, male and female Wistar rats, weighing 78-95g were obtained from Laboratory Animal Centre, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. They were divided into seven groups. The first group (Group A) served as the control group and the other six were the experimental groups. The experimental groups were fed with 20% (Group B), 30% (Group C) and 40% (Group D) honey. Fructose quantities equivalent to amounts in 20% (Group E), 30% (Group F) and 40% (Group G) honey were given to the remaining experimental animals. At the end of the 28 days, the animals were sacrified under mild anaesthesia and the two whole eyes were plucked and punctured in order to obtain the humour. Biomarkers of ocular pressure (glucose and albumin) and oxidative stress (glutathione [GSH] and malondiadehyde [MDA]) were assayed using standard procedures. Results show that honey and lower amounts of fructose did not yield any statistically significant (P>0.05) difference in the levels of the biomarkers determined, but fructose feeding at quantities equivalent to the amount in 40% honey, significantly (P<0.05) reduced GSH, but increased (P<0.05) the humours MDA and glucose levels. Unlike fructose, honey may not be associated with the risk of increased ocular pressure arising from enhanced glucose concentration. The honey induced peroxidative activity was also minimal.
Keywords: Biomarkers; Ocular pressure; Oxidative stress; Honey Fed Rats Back to TOC