Abstract
Quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry was used to examine the regulation of aldose reductase messenger RNA in the rat lens after the induction of diabetes mellitus or after feeding a 50% (w/w) galactose diet. Although increased staining for aldose reductase in the lens epithelium has previously been observed by immunohistochemistry after 3 weeks of diabetes or after 7 days of galactose feeding, we have not been able to detect any increase in the amount of aldose reductase messenger RNA in these cells as compared with controls (113 ± 7%, 105 ± 9%, 100 ± 75, respectively) at these time points (P > 0.05). After 15 days of galactose feeding, however, there was a significant increase of 140% (± 12%) in the amount of aldose reductase messenger RNA in the lens epithelial cells as compared with controls (P = < 0.001). These results demonstrate that increased availability of galactose, a high-affinity substrate for the enzyme, leads to increased aldose reductase messenger RNA, which suggests a role for aldose reductase in sugar metabolism in the lens.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 599-603 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Clinical Science |
Volume | 79 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1990 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- aldose reductase
- diabetes
- galactosaemia
- in situ hybridization
- lens
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine