Cysteine and ascorbate loss in the diabetic rat lens prior to hydration changes

Purpose. Glutathione (GSH) loss precedes vacuole formation in the diabetic rat lens, but the cause of this loss is not known. Cysteine availability is a rate limiting factor to glutathione biosynthesis in rat and human lenses but its concentration is not known; therefore free cysteine was measured prior to lens hydration in the diabetic rat lens. GSH can regenerate ascorbate from dehydroascorbate within the lens and potentially modulate the ascorbate pool; therefore ascorbate loss is also a possibility that has not been examined previously. Methods. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats to provide a slowly progressing model of cortical cataract. Age-matched control rats were injected with buffer vehicle only. Lens condition was monitored by binocular slit-lamp microscope after pupil dilation. Lens cysteine and glutathione were measured in the same lens, while ascorbate and total ascorbate (ascorbate + dehydroascorbate) of the contralateral lens were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography electrochemical detection. The 1- and 2-week periods of diabetes were chosen as they both preceded lens hydration changes and Na+/K+ changes, to avoid leakage due to ruptured cell membranes. Results. Lens weights were not significantly different compared to controls at either the 1- or 2-week periods, and lenses were completely free of initial vacuole formation. Lens GSH concentration was diminished by 72% compared with controls after 1 week of diabetes and 74% after 2 weeks of diabetes. Lens free cysteine was decreased by 62% and 78% compared with controls after 1 and 2 weeks of diabetes, respectively. Total lens ascorbate concentration was decreased by 34% after 1 week of diabetes and 48% after 2 weeks of diabetes. Dehydroascorbate levels represented less than 10% of the total lens ascorbate pool in all experimental groups. GSH and ascorbate concentration were correlated after 1 week of diabetes (p < 0.005) and after 2 weeks of diabetes (p < 0.001). GSH and cysteine concentration were also correlated after 1 week of diabetes (p < 0.001) and after 2 weeks of diabetes (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Decreased free cysteine, in the diabetic rat lens, precedes hydration changes and vacuole formation, contributing to decreased glutathione content. While cysteine was not abundant in the lens, its concentration is greater than previously supposed. The lens ascorbate pool was also diminished prior to lens hydration.