IMPLICATIONS OF ALDOSE REDUCTASE IN CATARACTS IN HUMAN DIABETES

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 18  (3) , 236-241
Abstract
Cataracts removed intracapsularly by cryoprobe technique from human diabetics were analyzed for sugars and polyols by GLC. The contents of sorbitol and fructose of lenses followed blood glucose levels at least up to 250 mg/dl. The human lens is probably capable of synthesizing substantial amounts of polyol pathway metabolites given exposure to high glucose levels such as are prevalent in diabetes. The synthesis of sorbitol was susceptible to quercitrin, an inhibitor of aldose reductase. The implications of these findings in the formation of cataracts in diabetic individuals were discussed.