Figure 3. Effects on reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondrial membrane potential in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs), exposed to 17β-estradiol at different concentrations for 24 h. A: An increase in peroxide levels was observed at the highest concentration used, 10 µM. B: Elevated levels of superoxides was evident at 10 µM 17β-estradiol. C: The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased at 10 µM 17β-estradiol. D: An increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) at lower concentrations, 0.1–10 nM, of 17β-estradiol. Changes are expressed as the ratio of red signal and green signal. Mean±SEM is shown. Experiments were performed three times in triplicates (n=3) and one representative experimental run for each method is shown. *p<0.05 as compared to control without 17β-estradiol (0) exposure.