四种中草药对大鼠半乳糖性白内障相关酶活性的影响

本实验测定了中草药对大鼠半乳糖性白内障延缓及治疗中五种酶活性的影响。结果表明,在白内障晶状体中,醛糖还原酶的活性明显升高;多元醇脱氢酶,己糖激酶,6磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶及过氧化氢酶的活性明显降低。在注射半乳糖的同时,分别用黄芩、石斛、菟絲子及玉蝴蝶四种中草药水煎剂灌胃,醛糖还原酶的活性没有明显升高,其余四种酶的活性均基本恢复到正常,表明这四种中草药对半乳糖所致的酶活性异常变化有抑制或纠正作用。     

醛糖还原酶在糖尿病性白内障中的作用

醛糖还原酶(aldose reductase,AR)是糖代谢多元醇(山梨醇)通路的第一个关键酶。在哺乳动物细胞中,正常血糖(3.8-6.1mmol/L)下,细胞中的葡萄糖主要由己糖激酶将其磷酸化转化为葡萄糖-6-磷酸,并进入糖酵解途径。只有微量的非磷酸化的葡萄糖(约3%)进入多元醇通路。然而,在高血糖状态(7 mmol/L)下,大于30%的葡萄糖通过多元醇途径代谢。多元醇途径中的第一步反应是由AR催化的还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate,NADPH)依赖性还原反应,将葡萄糖还原为山梨醇,并消耗NADPH。第二步反应是由山梨醇脱氢酶催化烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide,NAD)依赖性氧化反应,将山梨醇氧化为果糖,并消耗NAD产生NADH。AR在糖尿病性白内障形成过程中扮演着重要的角色,AR活性增高可以引发细胞内渗透压的改变,非酶糖基化的激活,氧化应激等,不同结构的AR抑制剂可以有效的阻止白内障的形成。本文主要对AR引起的这些改变在糖尿病性白内障形成过程中参与的机制以及AR抑制剂的研发与应用进行综述。     

金钗石斛生物碱抗糖性白内障作用及蛋白质组学效应的实验研究

为观察金钗石斛生物碱抗糖性自内障作用及其相关蛋白谱.将Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组、样品高、低剂量组和阳性对照组,每组10只,模型组腹腔注射D-半乳糖诱导大鼠白内障模型,样品高、低剂量组和阳性对照组在注射D-半乳糖26 d后形成Ⅱ级白内障后每天分别给予0.36、0.18 g/kg金钗石斛总生物碱灌胃进行实验性治疗,阳性对照组每天以0.22 g/kg石斛夜光丸灌胃,正常对照组每天仅灌胃生理盐水;用裂隙灯观察观察晶状体浑浊度;46 d后处死动物后检测晶状体水溶性蛋白、GSH的含量及T-SOD和MDA的活性;使用双向电泳技术提取分离大鼠晶状体总蛋白及糖基化蛋白,分析比较双向电泳图谱,寻找正常组与模型组、生物碱治疗组大鼠晶状体蛋白质组学差异.结果金钗石斛生物碱高剂量组能明显减轻晶状体混浊度,显著升高晶状体水溶性蛋白、GSH含量及T-SOD活性,降低MDA的活性;2-DE获得了较好的大鼠晶状体总蛋白质及糖基化蛋白质的双向电泳图谱,并观察到模型组有大量蛋白质点表达上调或下调或新蛋白,蛋白质糖基化水平升高,给予高剂量石斛生物碱后,大部分达上调或下调蛋白质恢复到正常的水平,糖基化蛋白降低.表明金钗石斛生物碱具有较好的抗糖性白内障作用,并伴随一系列晶状体蛋白质表达水平的改变,其差异蛋白可能参与了晶状体浑浊过程.     

糖尿病性白内障相关的酶及蛋白质

在我国白内障是造成视力障碍的主要因素。糖尿病性白内障(DC)是糖尿病的慢性并发症之一,其致盲率仅次于糖尿病视网膜病变(DR),糖尿病的发病率逐年上升的同时,DC的发病率也在增加。虽然白内障手术能够治愈DC,但研究人员仍致力于研究其发病机制以求通过药物途径治疗或预防DC。最近的研究显示,白内障的生成与晶状体内某些成分的改变有直接或间接的关系,DC发病过程中更是有一些特殊的改变:多元醇通路与DC的发展有着紧密的联系,有学者认为多元醇积聚诱发了白内障形成;氧化损伤在白内障形成过程中起了重要作用,而高血糖使得晶状体中多种抗氧化酶受损;晶状体本身是人体蛋白质含量最高的器官,白内障本质上即为结构蛋白的变性,而某些晶状体蛋白作为结构蛋白的同时又具有功能性蛋白的特性,其性质的改变引发晶状体混浊。本文针对DC相关的某些晶状体蛋白及酶类的研究进展做一综述。     

大鼠半乳糖性白内障动物模型制备方法的改良及其机制

目的改良大鼠半乳糖性白内障动物模型制备方法 ,比较改良前后两种方法各自的特点及其机制。方法 60只体重（180±10）g的雄性成年SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组（C）、半乳糖性白内障组1（G1）和半乳糖性白内障组2（G2）。G1组腹腔注射50%半乳糖溶液20mL/（kg·d）,连续30d;G2组第1周、第2周分别腹腔注射50%半乳糖溶液10、15mL/（kg·d）,第3周开始增至20mL/（kg·d）,直至第30d。应用裂隙灯观察晶体混浊情况,按大鼠晶状体混浊度评分标准进行分级和记录,并分别观察和比较不同制备方法的成模时间、模型成功率、模型死亡率和晶状体宏观形态变化以及SOD、MDA含量的变化。结果 G1和G2组模型死亡率分别为50%和10%,方法改良后死亡率显著降低;模型成功率分别为50%和90%,方法改良后成功率显著提高;两组模型晶状体混浊度一般为Ⅱ级或Ⅲ级;与C组比较,G1和G2组SOD、MDA含量的变化均有极显著差异（P﹤0.01）,而G2与G1组比较,差异不显著。结论半乳糖性白内障动物模型制备方法改良后,保留了改良前模型制备方法的优点,克服了改良前模型成活率低、死亡率高的缺点,是一种更为安全、可靠的模型制备方法 。     

不同剂量白藜芦醇对糖尿病性白内障大鼠晶状体抗氧化酶活力的影响

目的:探究不同剂量白藜芦醇对糖尿病性白内障大鼠晶状体抗氧化酶活力的影响。方法:75只5周龄健康SPF级雄性SD大鼠按照随机数字表法分为正常对照组、模型组,白藜芦醇低剂量组,白藜芦醇中剂量组和白藜芦醇高剂量组,每组各15只。五组大鼠均给予常规适应性喂养,模型组和白藜芦醇低、中、高剂量组大鼠采用链脲佐菌素(STZ)以60 mg/kg的给药剂量制作糖尿病大鼠模型,成模后白藜芦醇低剂量组按20 mg/kg、白藜芦醇中剂量组按50 mg/kg、白藜芦醇高剂量组按100 mg/kg的给药剂量每日给予白藜芦醇灌胃。观察12周后5组大鼠晶状体的混浊程度,检测血糖、体重后处死大鼠,检测晶状体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性改变。结果:随着白藜芦醇剂量的升高,白藜芦醇低、中、高剂量组大鼠的血糖逐渐降低而体重逐渐升高,且组间比较均具有统计学差异(P0.05)。三组不同剂量白藜芦醇干预组大鼠晶状体的浑浊程度均低于模型组,且白藜芦醇高剂量组大鼠晶状体的浑浊程度最低,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。白藜芦醇低、中、高剂量组大鼠SOD、GSH-PX和CAT酶活力与模型组大鼠相比均明显升高,而与正常对照组相比均明显降低(均P0.05)。随着白藜芦醇剂量的升高,白藜芦醇低、中、高剂量组大鼠SOD、GSH-PX和CAT酶活力逐渐升高,且组间比较均具有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:高剂量白藜芦醇可更为明显地降低血糖浓度,提高晶状体SOD、GSH-Px及CAT酶活力,改善糖尿病性白内障晶状体的浑浊程度。     

黄芩黄酮对硒性白内障晶状体抗氧化酶表达的影响

为探讨黄芩黄酮防治白内障的作用机理 ,采用半定量RT PCR方法比较正常组、白内障组和中药防治组大鼠晶状体中GSH Px、GR和Cu ZnSOD的mRNA水平 .白内障组GSH Px、GR和Cu ZnSOD的mRNA水平在 15d龄时显著高于正常 ,然后下降 ;在 2 7d和 31d龄 ,GR和Cu ZnSOD的mRNA水平下降至与正常无显著差异 ,GSH PxmRNA水平仍略高于正常 .中药防治组晶状体中 ,3种抗氧化酶的mRNA水平在各实验取样点无明显变化 ;其中 ,GR和Cu ZnSOD的mRNA水平一直与正常无显著差异 ,GSH PxmRNA水平略高于正常 .黄芩黄酮可能通过有效清除亚硒酸钠间接产生的活性氧来防止白内障的发生 ,并使亚硒酸钠对晶状体抗氧化酶表达的影响得以消除     

小檗胺对大鼠糖尿病性白内障模型中DNA损伤修复及致障过程的影响

利用链脲佐菌素（ＳＴＺ）引起的大鼠糖尿病性实验性白内障模型,观察小檗胺对晶状体上皮细胞ＤＮＡ损伤、修复及致障过程的影响．发现ＳＴＺ对照组在腹腔注射ＳＴＺ后３～４ｄ开始出现有显著意义的ＤＮＡ单链断裂（ｓｉｎｇｌｅｓｔｒａｎｄｂｒｅａｋｓ,ＳＳＢ）,并持续存在于发病全程直至晶状体完全混浊．而在注射ＳＴＺ后１２ｈ再腹腔注射３．４８ｍｇ／ｋｇ体重,１．７４ｍｇ／ｋｇ体重小檗胺后,一周后才出现有显著意义的ＳＳＢ．３．４８ｍｇ／ｋｇ体重组在５周后白内障形成率明显低于ＳＴＺ组的同时,ＳＳＢ也恢复到对照水平,而１．７４ｍｇ／ｋｇ体重组第７周才恢复到对照水平．提示抗氧化药物小檗胺能在一定程度上阻止白内障发生过程中的ＤＮＡ损伤．     

The effect of taurine administration on vitamin C levels of several tissues in mice

Summary. Taurine (2-aminoethane sulphonic acid), a sulphur-containing beta amino acid, is the most prevalent free intracellular amino acid in many human and animal tissues. Vitamin C metabolism is also fluenced by sulphur-containing amino acids. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of taurine administration on the vitamin C levels of plasma and several tissues (brain, liver, kidneys) in mice with incisional skin wounds. Animals were divided into two as control and taurine groups. Taurine was freshly dissolved in sterile saline and administered daily (60µl, ip) for five days in the taurine group. At the end of the fifth day, the animals were killed by decapitation. The brain, liver and kidneys were immediately removed. Vitamin C levels were measured in plasma and several tissues. The administration of taurine had no effect on the plasma vitamin C levels (P>0.05) but significantly increased in liver and kidneys (P<0.001). In conclusion, taurine may affect the vitamin C metabolism in tissues by different mechanisms.     

Prevention of cataract by pyruvate in experimentally diabetic mice

Previous studies have demonstrated that administration of pyruvate prevents cataract formation in diabetic rats. It is known that the induction of cataractous process in this case is initiated by aldose reductase (AR) catalyzed synthesis and accumulation of excessive sorbitol in the lens fibres and epithelium and their consequent osmotic hydration. Synthesis of this and other polyols is competitively inhibited by pyruvate. The objective of the present investigations was hence to determine whether pyruvate would have a similar protective effect in species where cataract formation is relatively independent of sorbitol synthesis such as in humans where the lens AR activity is extremely low, especially with glucose as a substrate. The Km of AR for glucose is known to be very high. The possible protective effect of pyruvate in the low AR models was conceived on the basis of our previous findings suggesting that it can also exert substantial antiglycating as well as antioxidant effects. The present studies have hence been conducted with mice, a species known to be low in lens AR, similar to that in humans. As stipulated, pyruvate administration has indeed been found to offer a significant protection against development of diabetic cataract in this model also. The effect correlated with the inhibition of protein glycation as well as of oxidative stress. The latter was apparent by the prevention of the loss of glutathione known to be associated with diabetes. Although there was a small but noticeable increment in the sorbitol content of the diabetic lenses, this was osmotically insignificant. Even this increase was prevented by pyruvate. The magnitude of the elevation in the contents of glycated proteins and the depression in the level of glutathione were, on the contrary, highly pronounced, suggesting a more prominent role of the latter factors. In addition, the possibility of a direct metabolic support it could offer to the tissue is also imminent by its effect on the maintenance of ATP, as shown earlier. The present studies are therefore considered more relevant to the pathogenesis of cataract in human diabetics and its possible prevention by endogenous compounds with antiglycating and antioxidant properties. Inhibition of cataract formation by pyruvate in an animal model with low lens AR, similar to that in humans, has been shown for the first time. (Mol Cell Biochem 269: 115–120, 2005)     

Enhanced testicular antioxidant capacity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is associated with diabetic impairment of testicular function, ultimately leading to reduced fertility. Its etiology may involve oxidative damage by reactive oxygen substances, and protection against this damage can be offered by antioxidant supplementation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal administration of vitamin C and E, selenium (Se), and vitamin E plus Se (COM) on concentrations of lipid peroxide (as malondialdehyde; MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and vitamin E concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the testes of rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Sixty groups were used (10 animals each) and these animals were initially allocated to two groups: control group and diabetic group. The diabetic group was subdivided into five groups as follows: diabetic control (DC), vitamin E, Se, COM, and vitamin C. Animals in the DC group and vitamin C, vitamin E, Se, and COM groups were made diabetic by the injection of STZ on 4 d after an injection of vitamins C and E, Se, and COM. Those vitamins and Se were also administered for 21 consecutive days. The MDA, vitamin E, GSH levels, and GSH-Px activities in testes were determined. Although the vitamin E concentration was higher in the control than in the DC group, the MDA levels were found to be lower in the control than in the DC group. The MDA levels in the testes samples of vitamin C, vitamin E, Se, and COM groups were lower than the DC group. However, GSH-Px activity and GSH levels in the testes were not significantly different between the control and DC groups. Vitamin E concentrations in the vitamin C, vitamin E, Se, and COM groups and GSH levels and GSH-Px activities in the Se, COM, and vitamin C groups were higher than either the control or DC group. The results indicate that reactive oxygen substances may be involved in possible testicular complications in diabetes of rats. Administration of vitamins C and E and Se reduced the testicular lipid peroxidation; these vitamins and Se had significant protective effects on testes of rats against oxidative damage in diabetes. Abstract of the study was presented at the conference Trace Elements in Men and Animals-11. June 2–6, 2002; Dr. Naziroğlu has been awarded a TEMA11 Investigative Scientist Award.     

Effects of benfluorex-vitamin C supplementation on cutaneous capillaries of diabetic rats

The ultrastructural changes on capillaries of the dermis in diabetic and benfluorex-vitamin C treated diabetic rats have been investigated. Three groups of 21 Wistar albino rats were used in the examination: control, diabetes, and benfluorex-vitamin C treated diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin. The streptozotocin-induced group was treated for 21 days with vitamin C and benfluorex, of which antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects were experimentally proved. Samples taken from the skin of rats' legs were examined under transmission electron microscopy. Swollen endothelial cells, narrowed capillary lumens, a thickened basement membrane, and fusion of mitochondrial cristae in the capillaries of diabetic rat dermis were seen. In the benfluorex-vitamin C treated group, contrary to the diabetic group, neither signs of degeneration in endothelial cells nor a significant difference with the control group with regard to capillary structure were observed. Amelioration in capillaries appears to be due to benfluorex and vitamin C treatment in diabetes.     

Antihyperglycemic effect of fraxetin on hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the diabetes mellitus is a serious health burden for both governments and healthcare providers. The present study was hypothesized to evaluate the antihyperglycemic potential of fraxetin by determining the activities of key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) – induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male albino Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of STZ (40 mg/kg b.w). Fraxetin was administered to diabetic rats intra gastrically at 20, 40, 80 mg/kg b.w for 30 days. The dose 80 mg/kg b.w, significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and increased plasma insulin level. The altered activities of the key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism such as glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and hepatic enzymes (aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) in the liver tissues of diabetic rats were significantly reverted to near normal levels by the administration of fraxetin. Further, fraxetin administration to diabetic rats improved body weight and hepatic glycogen content demonstrated its antihyperglycemic potential. The present findings suggest that fraxetin may be useful in the treatment of diabetes even though clinical studies to evaluate this possibility may be warranted.     

Relationship between standard metabolic rate and parasite-induced cataract of juveniles in three Atlantic salmon stocks

The connection between standard metabolic rate ( R _S) and parasite-induced cataract was investigated in this study. Oxygen consumption rate and cataract of 1 year-old fish in three Atlantic salmon Salmo salar stocks: Lake Saimaa, River Neva and River Teno reared at the same fish farm were examined. The measurements were carried out in winter, in spring before transporting the fish to the outside raceways and in autumn after the raceway period. Fish were exposed to natural Diplostomum spp. infection especially during the raceway period. The prevalence of cataract-bearing fish and cataract intensities ( I _C) differed between the populations. Most cataract-bearing individuals were found in the Saimaa stock and, in addition, the Saimaa stock had higher I _C than Neva and Teno stocks. These findings support the theory of a parasite being most infective to local population. The R _S, however, differed also between the stocks, the Teno stock had higher values compared to the Neva stock in winter. Furthermore, R _S and cataract intensity had a statistically significant positive correlation in autumn. Therefore, the results also reveal a possibility that parasite infection affects R _S of the fish.     

Resveratrol delay the cataract formation against naphthalene‐induced experimental cataract in the albino rats

Oxidative stress‐induced toxicity plays a major role in ocular diseases such as retinal degeneration, age‐related cataract (ARC) formation and macular dystrophy. In this study, we explored the possible role of resveratrol (RSV) at the different dose levels (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day, ip) in an experimental model of naphthalene (1 g/kg/day, po)‐induced age‐related cataracts. Morphological changes in the eyes of the rats in two groups, the RSV and the ARC groups, were monitored weekly, and biochemical parameters in the lenses were assessed after completion of the experimental work. A comparison between the rats in the two groups showed that treatments at RSV doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg/day significantly retarded lenticular opacity, restored antioxidants (CAT, SOD, GPX, GSH), Ca²⁺ ATPase function, and protein contents, and reduced lipid peroxidation in the lenses of the animals in the RSV group. The treatment with resveratrol at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day did not show any anti‐cataractogenic effects. Based on the results of our investigation, we conclude that supplemental doses of resveratrol at 40 mg/kg/day effectively prevent cataract formation associated with the aging via increased soluble protein contents and Ca²⁺ homeostasis, apart from the antioxidant restoration. The results demonstrate that RSV treatment may be considered as a promising preventive or supplemental measure for delaying and/or preventing the formation of ARCs.     

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase is involved in the antihyperglycemic effect induced by resveratrol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic substance found in grape skin, is proposed to account in part for the protective effect of red wine in the cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study is to investigate the action and possible mechanisms of resveratrol-produced regulation of plasma glucose in normal and diabetic rats including the animal model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced and nicotinamide-STZ-induced (NA-STZ), and insulin-resistant diabetic rats. Resveratrol (p.o.) produced a hypoglycemic effect in a dose-dependent manner in normal and diabetic rats, and the insulin level was increased following resveratrol treatment in normal and NA-STZ diabetic rats. In insulin-deficient STZ-diabetic rats, resveratrol significantly lowered the plasma glucose 90 min after oral treatment, and the hypoglycemic effect was abolished by phosphatidyl-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors (LY294002 and wortmannin) which also inhibited resveratrol-induced Akt phosphorylation in soleus muscle of STZ-diabetic rats. The change in the protein expression level of glucose transporter subtype 4 (GLUT4) in the soleus muscle and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver of STZ-diabetic rats treated with resveratrol (3 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days was examined. Resveratrol normalized hepatic PEPCK expression and increased GLUT4 expression in the soleus muscle of STZ-diabetic rats. The results indicate that the mechanisms contributing to the hypoglycemic effect of resveratrol include insulin-dependent and insulin-independent pathway, and PI3K-Akt-signaling was involved in the latter mechanism to enhance glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.     

Inhibitory effect of obestatin on glucose-induced insulin secretion in rats

Obestatin is a bioactive peptide encoded by the same gene that encodes ghrelin. Our aim was to investigate the effect of obestatin on insulin secretion. We evaluated the effects of obestatin on insulin secretion from rat islet cells which had been incubated overnight in the presence of 8.3, 11.1, and 22.2 mmol/l of glucose. In vivo, the serum levels of glucose and insulin were measured 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 min after the intravenous administration of saline or glucose (1 g/kg), with or without obestatin, and the area under the 60 min curve of insulin concentration (AUC_insulin) was calculated. Obestatin (0.01-100 nmol/l) inhibited insulin secretion from rat islets in a dose-dependent fashion. In vivo, when administered intravenously to rats together with glucose, obestatin (10, 50, and 250 nmol/kg) inhibited both the rapid 1-min insulin response and the AUC_insulin in a dose-dependent fashion. Our data demonstrate that under glucose-stimulated conditions, exogenous obestatin acts as a potent inhibitor of insulin secretion in anaesthetized rats in vivo as well as in cultured islets in vitro.     

Long-term taurine supplementation reduces mortality rate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Summary. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Taurine and vitamin E+selenium supplementation has some benefits in experimental models of diabetes mellitus. This study evaluates whether taurine and vitamin E+selenium supplementations reduce a hard end-point such as mortality due to diabetes. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were fed with standard diet or taurine (5%, w/w) or vitamin E (500UI/Kg)+selenium (8mg/Kg) enriched diets. Taurine significantly decreased mortality rate (p<0.04), while vitamin E failed to increase survival. In the late phase of the disease, taurine significantly decreased glycaemia, being vitamin E ineffective. No correlation between glycaemia and survival was found. None of supplementations modified body weight. Thus, only taurine decreases the mortality rate and glycaemia. These results encourage new research in the field, since classical hypoglycaemic agents are unable to decrease mortality in diabetic patients.