title: Abnormalities of retinal metabolism in diabetes or experimental galactosemia. IV. Antioxidant defense system.
abstract: Activities of enzymes that protect the retina from reactive oxygen species were investigated in experimentally diabetic rats and experimentally galactosemic rats, two animal models known to develop vascular lesions consistent with diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes or experimental galactosemia of 2 months duration significantly decreased the activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in the retina while having no effect on the glutathione synthesizing enzymes glutathione synthetase and gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase. Activities of two other important antioxidant defense enzymes-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase-also were decreased (by more than 25%) in retinas of diabetic rats and galactosemic rats. Administration of supplemental antioxidants, vitamins C and E, for the 2 months prevented the diabetes-induced impairment of antioxidant defense system in the retina. In experimentally galactosemic rats, the supplemental antioxidants were not as effective: SOD activity was normalized, but the enzymes of the glutathione redox cycle were only partly restored, and the subnormal catalase activity was unaffected. Diabetes or experimental galactosemia results in significant impairment of the antioxidant defense system in the retina, and exogenous antioxidant supplementation can help alleviate the subnormal activities of antioxidant defense enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706-1532, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kowluru
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Engerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014810:Vitamin E; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid