[Effects of vanadate on glucose metabolism in the lens of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes--ketohexokinase and aldolase activity].

The effects of vanadate, an oxidized form of vanadium, on glucose metabolism of the lens in diabetic rats were studied. Five-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered diabetic with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). One week later, the diabetic rats were given 0.2 g/l NaVO3 -5g/l NaCl solution in drinking water ad libitum for 2 weeks and biochemical parameters in their lenses were determined. Blood glucose levels significantly decreased in the vanadate-administered diabetic rats (DV group), compared with the diabetic rats given no vanadate (D group). In the DV group, a significant decrease was observed in lens fructose content compared with the D group. Lens ketohexokinase activity tended to be higher and lens aldolase activity was significantly higher in the DV group than in the D group. These results indicate that vanadate accelerates the metabolic reaction from sorbitol pathway to glycolysis.