title: Aldose reductase messenger RNA in the lens epithelium in vivo: effects of diabetes mellitus and galactosaemia.
abstract: 1. Quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry was used to examine the regulation of aldose reductase messenger RNA in the rat lens after the induction of diabetes mellitus or after feeding a 50% (w/w) galactose diet. 2. Although increased staining for aldose reductase in the lens epithelium has previously been observed by immunohistochemistry after 3 weeks of diabetes or after 7 days of galactose feeding, we have not been able to detect any increase in the amount of aldose reductase messenger RNA in these cells as compared with controls (113 +/- 7%, 105 +/- 9%, 100 +/- 7%, respectively) at these time points (P greater than 0.05). 3. After 15 days of galactose feeding, however, there was a significant increase of 140% (+/- 12%) in the amount of aldose reductase messenger RNA in the lens epithelial cells as compared with controls (P = less than 0.001). 4. These results demonstrate that increased availability of galactose, a high-affinity substrate for the enzyme, leads to increased aldose reductase messenger RNA, which suggests a role for aldose reductase in sugar metabolism in the lens.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lightman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lightman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kador
mesh_terms: D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D005690:Galactose