[Nicotinamide coenzyme regulation of the sorbitol pathway of glucose metabolism in the aorta of rats with streptozotocin diabetes].

Increase in content of glucose in aorta as well as in reducing properties of NAD and NADP coenzymes and alteration in content of cofactor of the sorbitol pathway led to accumulation of sorbitol in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Administration of nicotinamide into diabetic animals induced an increase in the ratios of NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH, accompanied by a decrease in sorbitol formation occurring in the reaction catalyzed by aldose reductase and stimulation of the sugar oxidation in the reaction catalyzed by sorbitol dehydrogenase. Possible use of nicotinamide for prevention and treatment of vascular lesions in diabetes is discussed.