Diyabetik ratların lenslerinde aquaporin moleküllerinin expresyonunun araştırılması

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism resulting from impaired insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It is associated with chronic hyperglycemia, which can lead to long-term damage to various organs, particularly the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. During the progression of DM, ocular structures responsible for maintaining visual quality such as the tear film, cornea, lens, vitreous body, and retina undergo numerous morphological, structural, and physiological changes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations, particularly those affecting lens biochemistry and physiology, are not yet fully understood. Aquaporins (AQPs), a family of water channel proteins, are expressed in various ocular tissues and have been implicated in several eye disorders, including cataracts, keratoconus, glaucoma, pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy (PBK/ABK), and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy. AQPs, specifically AQP-1, AQP-5, and AQP-7, play essential roles in intracellular and intercellular water transport coordination within the lens. Their dysregulation may contribute to the pathophysiological changes observed in the lens due to DM. In this study, 14 male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (n=7) and diabetic (n=7). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in the diabetic group via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Rats with plasma glucose levels ≥250 mg/dL one week after STZ injection were classified as diabetic. Lens tissues were collected and analyzed using histochemical, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence techniques. The results were statistically compared between groups. The expression of AQP-1 in lens epithelial cells was significantly reduced in the diabetic group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Similarly, the expression levels of AQP-5 and AQP-7 in both lens epithelial and fiber cells were markedly decreased in diabetic rats (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that diabetes adversely affects the expression profile of AQP molecules in the lens, potentially impairing lens function. Further advanced and repeated studies are recommended to establish definitive conclusions.