INOSITOL CHANGES IN NERVE AND LENS OF GALACTOSE FED RATS¹

Abstract

Abstract— —(1) Major organs of rats fed a 40 per cent galactose diet for one month were surveyed for changes in free myo‐inositol. The levels were reduced only in lens and sciatic nerve. (2) In nerve and lens the low myo‐inositol level was associated with high concentrations of galactitol and increased water content. (3) In nerve and lens myo‐inositol levels returned towards normal during a period of 1–2 weeks in which animals were fed a regular diet again. The pattern of change showed (a) an initial lag period, and (b) return to normal after galactitol concentrations had fallen to a low level and at the same time that water content returned to normal. (4) In nerve there were changes in scyllo‐inositol levels that paralleled those in myoinositol. (5) The evidence suggests that the inositol changes were related to the osmotic effects of galactitol accumulation rather than to a direct inhibition of myo‐inositol synthesis or uptake.