title: Studies on diabetic cataract in rats induced by streptozotocin. II. Biochemical examinations of rat lenses in relation to cataract stages.
abstract: Biochemical examinations of streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataracts in rats were performed and related to different stages of lens opacifications. Sorbitol levels in lenses showed maximum accumulation at stages I-III and began to decrease from stage IV. Glucose levels indicated a relatively constant accumulation, but became higher between stage V and VI. Fructose levels increased less significantly from stage I-IV, and slightly decreased thereafter. Inositol was not detectable from stage I. The sodium-potassium ratio (Na/K) increased slowly from stage I-IV, and rose remarkably at stage V. Hydration of the lenses showed no change between stage I and IV, and after stage V it rose markedly.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications*; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D007294:Inositol / Q000032:analysis; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000032:analysis; D013311:Streptozocin; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D005632:Fructose; D007294:Inositol; D013012:Sorbitol; D013311:Streptozocin; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium