Diabetes regulates small molecular weight G-protein, H-Ras, in the microvasculature of the retina: implication in the development of retinopathy.

ABSTRACT: Retinopathy, a largely microvascular complication, affects over 80% of patients with diabetes for 20 years. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of diabetes on the activation of H-Ras, a small molecular weight G-protein that regulates cell fate, in the retinal microvessels. Microvessels were prepared from freshly isolated retina from streptozotocin diabetic rats or 30% galactose-fed rats by hypotonic lysis method. Ras activation was quantified by Raf-1 binding assay, and the activation of the signaling proteins, Raf-1 and mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, by quantifying their gene transcripts (RTPCR) and/or by protein expression (western blot). Two months of diabetes or experimental galactosemia activated H-Ras (Raf-binding assay) in the retinal microvessels by over

SUBMITTER: Kanwar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2695828 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature