Mechanisms of ocular toxicity using the in vitro bovine lens and sodium dodecyl sulfate as a chemical model

Previous work using the in vitro bovine lens as a model has shown a correlation between toxicity and lens optical function and showed much higher sensitivity in detecting irritancy of several surfactants at much lower concentrations than the Draize score. In the current study, cultured bovine lenses were used to study the effects of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on lens optical properties and mitochondrial integrity. Bovine lenses were exposed to SDS (0.1 to 0.00625%) for 30 min and cultured for 24 h. Compared to controls (n = 17), loss of sharp focus was evident immediately following exposure to 0.1% SDS (n = 14, p < 0.0001). At 24 h loss of sharp focus became evident in all groups. Loss of lens transparency, significant increase in lens wet weight, and axial length were seen 24 h postexposure in lenses treated with 0.1 to 0.025% SDS. Confocal analysis 24 h postexposure showed SDS concentration-dependent decrease in number and length of the mitochondria in lens epithelial and superficial cortical fiber cells. The results of this study show a correlation between lens optical properties and metabolic function and together provide a sensitive in vitro model of ocular chemical toxicity. Results of confocal analysis suggest that the mitochondrial integrity of the superficial cortical fiber cells is most sensitive to damage caused by SDS. The results further suggest that recovery of lens metabolic function is necessary for the recovery of lens optical properties.