Nonenzymatic glycosylation of vitreous proteins in vitro and in the streptozotocin-treated diabetic rat

Abstract

Nonenzymatic glycosylation has been shown to affect collagen elsewhere in the body in diabetic patients. A fluorescent product of nonenzymatic glycosylation of protein was found to accumulate in the vitreous of rats 2 months after diabetogenic doses of streptozotocin. The same product could be demonstrated in the same time frame after in vitro incubation of glucose with insoluble protein constituents isolated from vitreous. These in vitro and in vivo studies show that nonenzymatic glycosylation of vitreous collagens does occur. Further studies to examine whether nonenzymatic glycosylation affects vitreous collagen function should be performed.