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Effect of vitamin C on sorbitol in the lens of guinea-pigs made diabetic with streptozotocin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

C. J. Bates ,
T. D. Cowen  and
P. H. Evans
C. J. Bates
Affiliation:
MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ
T. D. Cowen
Affiliation:
MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ
P. H. Evans
Affiliation:
MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ
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Abstract

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Marginally vitamin C-deficient guinea-pigs treated with the diabetogenic agent streptozotocin were compared with those liberally supplied with vitamin C, for functional indices of vitamin C status, particularly in the eye lens. Weanling male Dunkin–Hartley guinea-pigs were fed on diets with 0.1 g vitamin C/kg (marginally deficient), or 5 g/kg (liberally supplied), and some received intraperitoneal streptozotocin (two doses of 150 mg/kg body-weight). About half the streptozotocin-treated animals had high urinary glucose following an oral glucose dose; these animals also grew more slowly than the others. At 4 months after streptozotocin the animals were killed for measurement of tissue vitamin C, glucose and sorbitol. Streptozotocin moderately increased the concentration of glucose in plasma, lens and aqueous humour. Lens sorbitol levels increased only in the group exposed to streptozotocin plus marginal vitamin C. There was a significant (P < 0.02) positive correlation between urinary glucose and lens sorbitol levels overall. Liberal vitamin C intake may thus counteract the effect of streptozotocin diabetes on lens sorbitol, suggesting a new function of vitamin C, possibly related to cataractogenesis and to the biochemical lesions associated with diabetes.

Keywords

Guinea-pig lensVitamin CStreptozotocin diabetesSorbitol
Type
Metabolic Effects of Vitamin C
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 67 , Issue 3 , May 1992 , pp. 445 - 456
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1992

References

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