Lens protein glycation and the subsequent degree of opacity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
We measured how much glycated protein there was in rat eye lenses with different degrees of cataract, using an antibody against glucitol-lysine. Streptozotocin-diabetic (STZ) rats were in some cases treated with insulin (STZ + INS); control rats were normal. We graded the cataracts from 0 (transparent) to 3 (entirely opaque). STZ rats had significantly more grade 3 cataracts, and STZ + INS rats more grade 1 cataracts, than other groups. Grade 3 lenses had significantly more glycated protein than those of grade 0 (10.8 +/- 2.7 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg protein), grades 1 and 2 being intermediate. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels correlated similarly with severity of cataract. These data are consistent with the greater incidence of cataract among diabetics than among non-diabetics, and suggest that lens protein glycation contributes to the development of cataract.
Yano
M
M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
Matsuda
S
S
Bando
Y
Y
Shima
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006031:Glycosylation; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values
D005136:Eye Proteins; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin