[The inhibitory effect of aldose reductase inhibitor for proliferation in the lens epithelial cells of rat sugar cataract].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the inhibitory effect of aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI) for the accumulation of sugar alcohol and the enhanced proliferation of lens epithelial cells of rats fed a galactose diet.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 50% galactose with or without ARI (SNK-860). Histological changes in the lenses were observed by light microscopy, and the amount of galactitol accumulated in the lens epithelium was measured by liquid-gas chromatography. Immuno-histochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in whole-mount preparations was performed to assay the proliferative ability of the lens epithelial cells.


RESULTS
The amount of galactitol in the lens epithelium and the number of PCNA positive cells in rats administered ARI were less than in rats fed the galactose diet. Multi-layered epithelium was observed in advanced cataract of rats fed the galactose diet, but not in the rats given ARI.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of ARI can prevent cataractous changes and aberrant proliferation of lens epithelial cells.
Department of Ophthalmology, Fukui Medical University, 23-3 Shimoaizuki, Matsuoka-machi, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.
Soichi
S
Morikubo
Yoshihiro
Y
Takamura
Eri
E
Kubo
Shosai
S
Tsuzuki
Yoshio
Y
Akagi
D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005690:Galactose; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048289:Imidazolidines; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism
D007093:Imidazoles; D048289:Imidazolidines; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; C077139:fidarestat; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D005690:Galactose