Galactose-induced retinal capillary basement membrane thickening: prevention by Sorbinil

Normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a 30% galactose diet until 15-21 months of age developed significant (P less than 0.05) retinal capillary basement membrane thickening, compared with animals fed a standard test diet. Animals on the high galactose diet containing 250 mg/kg of the aldose reductase inhibitor, Sorbinil, did not develop basement membrane thickening. No cytologic abnormalities of pericytes or endothelial cells were noted, and pericyte:endothelial cell nuclear ratios did not differ in the various experimental groups. This model reproduces a characteristic lesion of diabetes mellitus in non-diabetic animals, and should facilitate study of the biochemical mechanisms of basement membrane thickening.