Metabolomic Changes in the Rat Eye Lens During the Cataract Onset | Sciact

Metabolomic Changes in the Rat Eye Lens During the Cataract Onset Научная публикация

Журнал

Molecules
ISSN: 1420-3049

Вых. Данные

Год: 2026, Том: 31, Номер: 12, Номер статьи : 2194, Страниц : DOI: 10.3390/molecules31122194

Ключевые слова

OXYS rats; lens; cataract; aging; metabolomic profile; NMR spectroscopy

Авторы

Snytnikova Olga A. ¹ , Smolentsev Anton A. ¹ , Kolosova Nataliya G. ² , Fursova Anzhella Z. ^3,2 , Tsentalovich Yuri P. ¹

Организации

1	International Tomography Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Str. 3a, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
2	The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
3	State Novosibirsk Regional Clinical Hospital, St. Nemirovich-Danchenko 130, 630087 Novosibirsk, Russia

This study aimed to characterize metabolomic changes in the eye lens of senescence-accelerated OXYS rats in comparison with control Wistar rats, and to identify biochemical shifts associated with genotype, age, and cataract progression. Cataract severity was clinically graded. Rats’ lenses were analyzed using quantitative 1H NMR spectroscopy at 3.6 and approximately 4.5 months of age. A total of 43 metabolites were quantified. We found that at 3.6 months of age, OXYS lenses exhibited a significant accumulation of 17 metabolites, primarily amino acids, compared to Wistar rats, suggesting an imbalance between amino acid uptake and crystallin biosynthesis. However, by 4.5 months, OXYS lenses exhibited rapid metabolic changes characterized by significant decreases in amino acid, glucose, and key energy/antioxidant markers, including NAD, adenylate energy charge, and hypotaurine. Clinical cataract grade (Grade 2 vs. 3) had a negligible impact on the overall metabolomic profile. Our results indicate that profound metabolic reorganization, including an initial amino acid excess followed by energy and antioxidant depletion, precedes the morphological manifestation of cataracts in OXYS rats. We suggest that a biochemical “point of no return” occurs early in cataractogenesis, while subsequent increase in lens opacification is a secondary consequence of preexisting metabolic disturbances.

Snytnikova O.A. , Smolentsev A.A. , Kolosova N.G. , Fursova A.Z. , Tsentalovich Y.P.
Metabolomic Changes in the Rat Eye Lens During the Cataract Onset
Molecules. 2026. V.31. N12. 2194 . DOI: 10.3390/molecules31122194 WOS Scopus OpenAlex

Поступила в редакцию:	14 мая 2026 г.
Принята к публикации:	17 июн. 2026 г.
Опубликована online:	22 июн. 2026 г.

≡ Web of science:	WOS:001803039600001
≡ Scopus:	2-s2.0-105042820629
≡ OpenAlex:	W7165618825