EFFECT OF ALDOSE REDUCTASE INHIBITOR ON CORNEAL EPITHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION IN GALACTOSE-FED DOGS

The effect of concomitant administration of galactose and the aldose r eductase inhibitor(ARI) Epalrestat (Kinedak(R)) on corneal barrier fun ction was examined in dogs. Six-month-old male beagles were rendered a phakic in one eye and then divided into four groups as follows: 1) a c ontrol group fed on 30% cellulose, 2) a galactosemic group fed on 30% galactose, 3) a 30% galactose-fed group treated with low dose (20 mg/k g) ARI and 4) a 30% galactose-fed group treated with high dose (50 mg/ kg) ARI. Forty-one months after the start of these diets, corneal auto fluorescence and the corneal barrier function were measured in each do g using anterior fluorophotometry (FL-500). When barrier function was analyzed in non-operated eyes, fluorescence data were significantly hi gher in the galactosemic group compared to the control group. Zn nonop erated eyes, fluorescent data in high-dose ARI treated group were sign ificantly lower than those in the galactosemic group. However, in oper ated eyes, no significant difference was observed between the galactos emic group and the ARI treated groups. Similar trends were observed wh en corneal autofluorescence of each group was compared. Long-term gala ctose feeding appeared to damage corneal epithelial barrier function. This damage was not observed in the high-dose ARI treated group sugges ting that this damage may be linked to the polyol pathway.