Sorbitol in aortic endothelium of diabetic rats.

Sorbitol metabolism of the endothelial cells of the aorta has been studied in normal and alloxan diabetic rats by the aid of a new time- and gradient governed elution method. In the normal rats the amount of sorbitol was small whereas in the diabetic animals the content was significantly increased (p less than 0.001). The activity of sorbitol-dehydrogenase was not changed. It is possible that a metabolic injury of endothelial cells induced by a glucose overload may be mediated by formation of sorbitol.