Combined effect of probucol and insulin on cataracts of diabetic rats fed a high cholesterol diet.
We investigated the effects of long-term treatment with probucol, a hypolipidemic agent with antioxidative action, insulin, or their combination on cataracts of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Each rat was checked for cataracts at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 15 weeks after streptozotocin injection. Cataracts were observed from 8 weeks in untreated hypercholesterolemic and diabetic rats and the incidence of catarats increased to 100% by 15 weeks. The incidence of cataracts in rats treated with probucol, insulin and their combination was first seen at 12, 12 and 15 weeks, respectively, and was 86%, 63% and 33%, respectively, at 15 weeks. The preventive effects of both agents alone and their combination on the cataracts were confirmed by histopathological evaluation of eyeballs. The combined treatment with both agents markedly improved hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and increased serum lipid peroxide levels. These results indicate that the combined treatment with probucol and insulin is useful in preventing the development and progression of diabetic cataracts.
Yoshida
Masumi
M
Pharmacology Division, Nihon Bioresearch Inc., Gifu, Japan.
Kimura
Hitoshi
H
Kyuki
Kouhei
K
Ito
Mikio
M
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011341:Probucol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D007328:Insulin; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D011341:Probucol