Impairment of Protein Synthesis in the Retinal Tissue in Diabetic Rabbits: Secondary Reduction of Fast Axonal Transport

Abstract

Protein biosynthesis in the retina and fast axonal transport along the optic pathway were studied in rabits in which diabetes was experimentally induced. Retinal protein biosynthesis and axonal transport were significantly reduced in the diabetic rabbits, and the reduction was correlated to the severity of the diabetes. The somal delay time was slightly elongated and the O/R [optic nerve and tract/retinal radioactivity] ratio was fairly constant in the various levels of blood glucose; intrasomal protein movement seems to be less affected in diabetic rabbits. Velocity and the distribution pattern of axonally transported protein remained unaffected in the diabetic rabbits. Apparently a disturbance in the metabolism in the cell body is the most important factor related to quantitative reduction of fast axonal transport in diabetic rabbits.