Studies on pyrazinoylguanidine. 6. Prevention of cataracts in STZ-diabetic rats

This study was designed to determine whether pyrazinoylguanidine (PZG) can attenuate cataract development in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. After a single, intraperitoneal dose of STZ (45 mg/kg in 0.05 mol/l sodium citrate buffer), Sprague-Dawley rats (250-260 g) were divided into three groups. Beginning a week later, each group of diabetic rats received twice daily for 24 weeks by gavage one of the following: vehicle (saline 10 ml/kg), PZG (35 mg/kg), or captopril (15 mg/kg). PZG treatment prevented the development of diabetic cataracts (p = 0.0009 compared to vehicle). In contrast to PZG, 38% of vehicle-treated rats exhibited cataracts after 12 weeks, increasing to 89% after 16 weeks. At week 16, 22% of captopril-treated rats exhibited cataracts, a 75% reduction from vehicle-treated rats (p = 0.4289 compared to vehicle; p = 0.0571 compared to PZG). These results indicate that captopril can attenuate cataract formation in STZ-diabetic rats, whereas PZG completely suppresses it.