Nicotine exposure exacerbates development of cataracts in a type 1 diabetic rat model.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2012
Abstract
Diabetes and smoking are known risk factors for cataract development. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nicotine on the progression of cataracts in a type 1 diabetic rat model. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a single injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin. Daily nicotine injections were administered subcutaneously. Forty-five rats were divided into groups of diabetics with and without nicotine treatment and controls with and without nicotine treatment. Progression of lens opacity was monitored using a slit lamp biomicroscope and scores were assigned. To assess whether systemic inflammation played a role in mediating cataractogenesis, we studied serum levels of eotaxin, IL-6, and IL-4. The levels of the measured cytokines increased significantly in nicotine-treated and untreated diabetic animals versus controls and demonstrated a positive trend in the nicotine-treated diabetic rats. Our data suggest the presence of a synergistic relationship between nicotine and diabetes that accelerated cataract formation via inflammatory mediators.
Volume
2012
First Page
349320
Last Page
349320
ISSN
1687-5303
Published In/Presented At
Tirgan, N., Kulp, G. A., Gupta, P., Boretsky, A., Wiraszka, T. A., Godley, B., Tilton, R. G., & Motamedi, M. (2012). Nicotine exposure exacerbates development of cataracts in a type 1 diabetic rat model. Experimental diabetes research, 2012, 349320. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/349320
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
23049540
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article