Figure 2. In vitro study on Wistar rat lenses cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium: Morphological assessment of lenticular opacification after 24 h incubation A: Normal lenses incubated in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) alone (control; Group I). Grade 0 opacification (the absence of opacification [gridlines clearly seen]) in all eight lenses. B: Lenses incubated in DMEM that contained sodium selenite (100 μM selenite/ml of DMEM; selenite-challenged, untreated; Group II). Grade +++ opacification (extensive thick opacification involving the entire lens [total clouding of gridlines; gridlines not seen at all]) in all eight lenses. C: Lenses incubated in DMEM and simultaneously exposed to sodium selenite (100 μM selenite/ ml of DMEM) and chrysin (200 μM chrysin/ml of DMEM) selenite-challenged simultaneously chrysin-treated; Group IIIa). Grade + opacification (slight degree of opacification [minimal clouding of gridlines; gridlines still visible]) in one of the eight lenses. D: Lenses first incubated for 2 h in DMEM that contained only chrysin (200 μM chrysin/ml of DMEM) and then for up to 24 h in fresh DMEM that contained only sodium selenite (100 μM selenite/ml of DMEM; 2 h chrysin pretreatment, subsequent selenite-challenge; Group IIIb). Grade ++ opacification (diffuse opacification involving almost the entire lens (moderate clouding of gridlines [gridlines faintly visible]) in all three lenses. E: Lenses first incubated for 30 min in DMEM that contained only sodium selenite (100 μM selenite/ml of DMEM) and then for up to 24 h in fresh DMEM that contained only chrysin (200 μM chrysin/ml of DMEM; initial selenite-challenge [30 min], subsequent chrysin treatment; Group IIIc). Grade + opacification (slight degree of opacification [minimal clouding of gridlines; gridlines still visible]) in all three lenses. F: Lenses first incubated for 1 h in DMEM that contained only sodium selenite (100 μM selenite/ml of DMEM) and then for up to 24 h in fresh DMEM that contained only chrysin (200 μM chrysin/ml of DMEM; initial selenite-challenge [1 h], subsequent chrysin treatment; Group IIId). Grade ++ opacification; diffuse opacification involving almost the entire lens (moderate clouding of gridlines [gridlines faintly visible]) in all three lenses. G: Lenses first incubated for 2 h in DMEM that contained only sodium selenite (100 μM selenite/ml of DMEM) and then for up to 24 h in fresh DMEM that contained only chrysin (200 μM chrysin/ml of DMEM; initial selenite-challenge [2 h], subsequent chrysin treatment; Group IIIe). Grade +++ opacification (extensive thick opacification involving the entire lens [total clouding of gridlines; gridlines not seen at all]) in all three lenses. H: Lenses incubated in DMEM that contained only chrysin (200 μM chrysin/ml of DMEM; Group IV). Grade 0 opacification (absence of opacification [gridlines clearly seen]) in all three lenses.