title: Insulin in the vitreous of the normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.
abstract: Insulin has been detected by ELISA in the vitreous of the normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rat at levels for both about 1% of those in serum. 131I-labeled insulin, administered to conscious rats via an indwelling cannula in the right atrium, was found to cross the blood-ocular barrier into the vitreous. Autoradiographic gel analysis showed the peptide was transferred as an intact molecule. Vitreous insulin levels reflected serum levels as seen in relatively constant vitreous-to-serum insulin ratios over a wide range of serum insulin concentrations. The rate of blood-to-vitreous passage of insulin was about the same in normal as in diabetic rats (fasting serum glucose greater than or equal to 21 mM). At least a portion of vitreous insulin is therefore of pancreatic origin, and retinal tissue in the normal and diabetic animal is thus accessible to circulating hormone. The blood-ocular barrier is unaltered in streptozotocin diabetes with regard to insulin passage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Shires
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Braddock
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pulido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D012709:Serum Albumin