The Inhibitory Effect of Aldose Reductase Inhibitor on Proliferation in the Lens Epithelial Cells of Rat Sugar Cataract

Abstract

To evaluate the inhibitory effect of aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI) for the accumulation of sugar alcohol and the enhanced proliferation of lens epithelial cells of rats fed a galactose diet. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 50% galactose with or without ARI (SNK-860). Histological changes in the lenses were observed by light microscopy, and the amount of galactitol accumulated in the lens epithelium was measured by liquid-gas chromatography. Immuno-histochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in whole-mount preparations was performed to assay the proliferative ability of the lens epithelial cells. The amount of galactitol in the lens epithelium and the number of PCNA positive cells in rats administered ARI were less than in rats fed the galactose diet. Multi-layered epithelium was observed in advanced cataract of rats fed the galactose diet, but not in the rats given ARI. The administration of ARI can prevent cataractous changes and aberrant proliferation of lens epithelial cells.