Diabetes related cataract and histopathological abnormalities of the ocular regions of Wister albino rats

Objective: Diabetes is an important public health disease affected different body organs especially eye. The present study aimed to illustrate the cataractous lenses associated complication on ocular organs. Research design and methods: Following induction of type 2 diabetes for 6 months (streptozotocin 60mg/kg single dose in combination with nicotinamide100 mg./kg body weight), 6 rats of a colony of 47 individuals developed cataract. Control individuals were used of the similar age. The animals groups were anaesthetized and sacrificed. Ocular regions were incised and subjected for histopathology and comet assay. Transmission electron microscopy was carried out for the optic nerve. In case of meibomian gland, beside histopathological investigations, immunohistochemistry of bcl2, caspase 3 and p53 were carried out. Results: The present findings revealed the development of cataractous lenses, diabetic retinopathy, thickened cornea and damaged stroma and optic neuropathy explained by demyelinated axons. Single gel electrophoresis explained DNA damage of cells of the retina, ciliary organ and optic nerve. Also, there is a marked reduction of the immunohistochemistry of bcl2, caspase 3 and p53 of diabetic meibomian gland, reflecting cell death. Conclusion: Finally the authors concluded that the cataractous lenses originated through different pathways of diabetic complication.