Renal Sorbitol Accumulation and Associated Enzyme Activities in Diabetes

Abstract
Streptozotocin-induced diabetes increased sorbitol levels in the rat renal medulla. The activities of renal medullary aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, responsible for the formation and metabolism of sorbitol, favor sorbitol formation and did not change in diabetes. The elevated sorbitol concentration appears to be due to an increase in medullary glucose concentration.