Abstract
The relationship between microsomal prostaglandin biosynthesis, PGH synthase activity and cell morphology was investigated with cultured bovine lens epithelial cells under physiological and hypergalactosemic conditions. The rate of lens cell microsomal PGE2 generation fell from 5.3 to 2.2 pg μg protein-1 min-1; PGF(2α) declined from 7.7 to 4.8 pg μg protein-1 min-1 within 20 hr of exposure to 40 mM galactose. The decreased PGE2 and PGF(2α) biosynthetic capability was attributed to a reduction in PGH synthase activity which reduced to 62% of control (5.5 mM glucose) after a 20 hr exposure to galactose. Measurement of PGH synthase activity after 6 days of continuous exposure to galactose resulted in a further reduction to 55% of control. The diminution in microsomal prostaglandin biosynthesis and decline in PGH synthase activity precluded ultrastructural alterations, such as large vacuole formation and severe autodegradation of organelles. The simultaneous introduction of sorbinil, and aldose reductase inhibitor, to the galactose medium not only prevented the decrease in microsomal prostaglandin biosynthesis and PGH synthase activity, but also the detrimental morphological complications. The lens epithelial cell system may provide a useful model for examining the biochemical and morphological-related consequences of sustained hypergalactosemia and their potential regulation by aldose reductase inhibitors.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1452-1460 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 9 |
State | Published - 1988 |