The utilization of 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the study of the sorbitol pathway and aldose reductase inhibition in intact rabbit lenses.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been utilized in the study of the metabolism of intact, functioning rabbit lenses maintained in organ culture. The sorbitol pathway and aldose reductase inhibition have been studied using carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy. Incubation of lenses in high concentration [1-13C] glucose medium with and without added inhibitors allows the sorbitol pathway and glycolysis to be monitored. Various aldose reductase inhibitors have been studied and are ranked based on percentage of inhibition as follows: tolrestat greater than or equal to sorbinil greater than sulindac greater than sulindac sulfide much greater than indomethacin greater than acetylsalicylic acid greater than quercetin greater than tandearil greater than salicylic acid greater than 3,3-Tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG). It has been demonstrated that 13C NMR spectroscopy provides an effective method of screening potential inhibitors of aldose reductase. The aspirin substitutes ibuprofen and acetaminophen have been studied and are found to reduce sorbitol accumulation in intact rabbit lenses. The effects of myo-inositol and vitamin E on sorbitol accumulation have also been investigated. Results suggest that the various metabolic pathways within the lens are intricately connected. In a preliminary manner, the effect of diabetes on metabolism in intact lenses has been investigated using 13C NMR spectroscopy. Increased sorbitol production has been observed for diabetic lenses. 31P NMR spectroscopy has also been utilized in the study of lens metabolism and aldose reductase inhibitors. Inclusion of various inhibitors in the high concentration glucose medium results in maintenance of essentially normal phosphorus-containing metabolite levels in the lens. No clear relationship was observed between lens clarity and phosphorus metabolite levels as determined using NMR.