Altered phosphate metabolism in the intact rabbit lens under high glucose conditions and its prevention by an aldose reductase inhibitor.

Intact paired rabbit lenses were incubated in media containing 5.5 mM and 35.5 mM glucose (both at 290 +/- 3 mOsm) and examined by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Lenses in 35.5 mM glucose exhibited an altered metabolic steady-state characterized by elevated alpha-glycerophosphate and depressed adenosine triphosphate concentrations. Time course studies revealed that these metabolic changes occurred chiefly during the initial 48 hr of incubation under high glucose conditions. The inclusion of an aldose reductase inhibitor in the medium prevented these changes in lenticular metabolism.