title: Effects of seven days of galactose feeding and aldose reductase inhibition on mast cells and vessel morphometry in rat sciatic nerve.
abstract: The association between mast cells and vessel morphometry in sciatic nerve was examined after seven days in animals fed a diet of 40% D-galactose and compared to control rats and to galactose-fed animals treated with the aldose reductase inhibitor, Tolrestat. Electron microscopy revealed an increase in the total number of mast cells and the number of degranulated mast cells in galactose-fed animals (7.8 +/- 2.9; 2.6 +/- 2.9; mean +/- SD) compared to controls (4.6 +/- 2.1; degranulated mast cells were not seen in any control nerves) and Tolrestat-treated, galactose-fed animals (4.4 +/- 2.5; 0.1 +/- 0.4). Although no significant differences were noted in the numbers of vessels between the three groups, an index of vasoconstriction was significantly increased in the galactose-fed animals (0.115 +/- 0.048; mean +/- SD) compared to controls (0.068 +/- 0.011) and Tolrestat-treated, galactose-fed animals (0.075 +/- 0.20). These data suggest that mast cell degranulation is associated with the vascular constriction induced by seven days of galactose intoxication and that both may be prevented by inhibiting aldose reductase.
authors.affiliation: Veteran Administration Medical Center, La Jolla, CA USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kalichman
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Calcutt
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mizisin
mesh_terms: D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001835:Body Weight; D002452:Cell Count; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011108:Polymers; C024617:polyol; D014867:Water; C040550:tolrestat; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D005690:Galactose