title: Effect of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen on diabetes-induced cataracts in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The growth-associated increase in the blood glucose level of animals with Type 2 diabetes is inhibited by moderate hyperbaric exposure at 1.25 atmospheres absolute (ata) with 36% oxygen, presumably due to an increase in oxidative metabolism. However, there are no data available regarding the effect of moderate hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on diabetes-induced cataracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-week-old mice with Type 2 diabetes and cataracts were exposed to 1.25 ata with 36% oxygen, 6 h daily, for 12 weeks, followed by normal conditions at 1 ata with 21% oxygen for 16 weeks (cataract + hyperbaric group). Levels of blood glucose and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs), used as an index of oxidative stress, and the turbidities of the lenses from these mice at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 32 weeks of age were compared with those of control and diabetic (cataract group) mice not exposed to HBO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-fasting and fasting blood glucose levels were lower in the cataract + hyperbaric group at 12, 16, and 32 weeks of age than in the age-matched cataract group. The levels of dROMs were lower in the cataract + hyperbaric group at 16 and 32 weeks of age than in the age-matched cataract group. The turbidities of the peripheral and central regions of the lenses were lower in the cataract + hyperbaric group at 12, 16, and 32 weeks of age than in the age-matched cataract group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperbaric exposure at 1.25 ata with 36% oxygen delays cataract development and progression in mice with Type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Life Science, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagatomo
authors.forename: Roland R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Hisahide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: V Reggie
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Edgerton
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishihara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose