Biochemical and clinical changes in the rabbit lens during alloxan diabetes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Of 37 rabbits given alloxan 8 were killed within 4 hrs. and 14 died within a week. Ascorbic acid, thiol S, glutathione, SH were detd. for lens and aqueous humor, also the blood sugar. 14 rabbits died within 1 week with normal eyes but 7 had high blood sugar. Of the 15 rabbits surviving over 1 week, 5 of 10 with high blood sugar showed bilateral cataracts; 2 of 5 with normal blood sugar showed retinal degeneration. Immediately after alloxan treatment, there was a marked increase in lens glutathione and decrease in protein SH in the lens. The decrease in protein SH persisted (as long as 2 yrs.) in all animals.