Effect of sodium ferulate on expression of bcl-2 and bax in rat lens epithelial cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of sodium ferulate on expression of apoptosis-related genes, bcl-2 and bax , in rat lens epithelial cells (LEC) injured by oxidation.METHODS: Eyes of SD rats were divided randomly into four groups: control group, hydrogen peroxide group (H 2O 2), pirenoxine sodium group (PS) and sodium ferulate group (SF). Eyes were excised and lenses were separated under operating microscope and sterilized condition. Lenses were incubated in CO 2 incubator for 24 h with 300 μmol·L -1 H 2O 2 and with or rithout 5 mmol·L -1 SF. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein of LEC were measured and compared by tearing the LEC anterior capsule via immunohistochemical analysis.RESULTS: (1) There were Bcl-2 and Bax expression in normal lenses of SD rates, Bcl-2 expression was stronger than Bax. (2) Bcl-2 expression decreased and Bax expression increased markedly ( P0 01 ),Bcl-2/Bax reduced in H 2O 2 group. (3) There were up regulation of Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation down of Bax expression, and Bcl-2/Bax increased in SF group compared with H 2O 2 group ( P0 01 ). (4) The above changes were similar between PS group and SF group, but much stronger in SF group than that in PS group ( P0 01 ).CONCLUSION: These results show that SF regulates expression of apoptosis-related genes, bcl-2 and bax , which may be the molecular mechanism of LEC apoptosis inhibition by SF.