Expression of active caspase 3 in the rat lens after in vivo exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B

Purposes The aim of this study is to investigate the time evolution of active caspase 3 within first 120 h in the rat lens after in vivo exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B. Methods Twenty three six-week-old female albino Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to subthreshold dose (1 kJ/m 2 ) of UVR-B unilaterally and sacrificed at 24, 41, 70 and 120 h after exposure. Lenses were enucleated and active caspase 3 was detected by Western Blot. The time evolution of active caspase 3 was then plotted as a function of relative mean difference in active caspase 3 between exposed and nonexposed lenses. Results There is expression of active caspase 3 in both exposed and nonexposed lenses but there is no difference in relative mean difference in active caspase 3 between exposed and nonexposed lenses in all four postexposure groups. Conclusions Exposure to subthreshold dose of UVR-B does not induce apoptosis in the rat lens in vivo within first 120 h though there is a non-significant increase of active caspase 3 at 120 h. Increase in sample size might reduce the variation level in expression of active caspase 3 in the rat lenses.