Lipid metabolism in hyperglycemic human and rabbit's lenses
Ohmura, M.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 89(1): 162-171
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0203 PMID: 3993467 Document Number: 261107
To elucidate lipid metabolism in diabetic cataract, phosphorus content of phospholipid and fatty acid composition of total lipid were investigated in the alloxan diabetic rabbit's lens (for 2, 5 and 9 mo. of hyperglycemic term) and the human diabetic cataractous lens. In rats sphingomyelin (SM) content was significantly higher in the 5th and 9th months' lenses in which apparent opacity was observed and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) contents were significantly lower in the 9th month's lens than in the normal lens. In the fatty acid composition C20:5 increased evidently in the 9th month's lens compared with the normal lens. Percentage of the polyunsaturated fatty acid showed a definite increase in the 2nd mo. lens in which opacity was not yet remarkable. In the diabetic lens as a whole and in the portion of the cortex of the diabetic lens PE content was lowerthan the normal and in the diabetic lens cortex lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) was higher than the normal lens cortex. No changewas noted in the content of PE and LPE between the senile and the diabetic cataracts. C20:5remarkably increased in the diabetic lens than the senile cataractous one. Polyunsaturated fatty acid increased in the diabetic lens as compared with the senile cataractous lens. The changes in phosphorus content and fatty acid composition in diabetic lens were noted more remarkably in the lens cortex than in the nucleus. Evidently, fiber membrane is disturbed more severely in diabetic lens, particularly in the lens cortex, than in normal lens and senile cataractous lens.