title: Effect of pyruvate on polyol pathway and lens epithelial cells apoptosis in diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of polyol pathway on lens epithelial cells apoptosis and the activity of caspase-3 and its reversal by pyruvate in diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  220 Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control group, model group and treatment group. After streptozotocin (STZ) induced cataract, the treatment group received 2% pyruvate in the diet and drinking. The opacification of lens was detected by microscope every 2 weeks. On 4W, 8W and 12W of the experiment, glucose and sorbitol in the lens were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The percentage of lens epithelial cells undergoing apoptosis was measured by Annexin V/PI staining. The activity of caspase-3 was analyzed by Western-blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies show that there was significant increase of glucose, sorbitol in lens of model group, the apoptosis rate and caspase-3 activity of lens epithelial cells were also gradually increase. Pyruvate treatment decreased the levels of sorbitol, glucose, lens epithelial cells apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. The progress of cataract was also significantly delayed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polyol pathway, possibly through regulation of the activity of caspase-3, can induce apoptosis of lens epithelial cell. Pyruvate ingested orally can effective inhibit diabetic cataractogenesis in rats through inhibit polyol pathway.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China. mengqi99@sina.com
authors: Yanxiu
authors: Y
authors: Qi
authors: Jisong
authors: J
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; C024617:polyol; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3