To clarify the relationship between abnormality of sorbitol and/or myo-inositol metabolism caused by hyperglycemia and diabetic macroangiopathy, we investigated the effects of high glucose concentrations and epalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, on the metabolism of sorbitol and myo-inositol in cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. In cells incubated in the presence of 30 mM glucose for 72 h, the sorbitol content increased ∼4.5-fold, and the myo-inositol level decreased by 55% compared with control values. Kinetic analysis of high-affinity myo-inositol uptake suggested that smooth muscle cells exposed to high glucose concentrations exhibited a noncompetitive type of inhibition characterized by ouabain-sensitive, energy-dependent active transport. Epalrestat blocked glucose-induced changes in sorbitol and myo-inositol metabolism, suggesting that these changes were caused by the accumulation of sorbitol in the cells. These metabolic changes may impair function of smooth muscle cells, contributing to the pathology of diabetic atherosclerosis, especially Mönckeberg's calcific medial sclerosis. The use of an aldose reductase inhibitor may prevent these glucose-induced changes.
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Original Articles|
November 01 1993
Effects of High Glucose Concentrations and Epalrestat on Sorbitol and myo-Inositol Metabolism in Cultured Rabbit Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells
Fumihiko Sakakibara;
Fumihiko Sakakibara
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine
Nagoya, Japan
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Nigishi Hotta;
Nigishi Hotta
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine
Nagoya, Japan
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Naoki Koh;
Naoki Koh
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine
Nagoya, Japan
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Nobuo Sakamoto
Nobuo Sakamoto
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine
Nagoya, Japan
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Fumihiko Sakakibara, The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Turuma-cho, Shouwa-ku, Nagoya, 466, Japan.
Diabetes 1993;42(11):1594–1600
Article history
Received:
December 29 1992
Revision Received:
June 17 1993
Accepted:
June 17 1993
PubMed:
8405700
Citation
Fumihiko Sakakibara, Nigishi Hotta, Naoki Koh, Nobuo Sakamoto; Effects of High Glucose Concentrations and Epalrestat on Sorbitol and myo-Inositol Metabolism in Cultured Rabbit Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells. Diabetes 1 November 1993; 42 (11): 1594–1600. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.42.11.1594
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