存在于多数组织内的醛糖还原酶（AR）可使葡萄糖转变成山梨醇，并进一步代谢成果糖，其生理作用是使接触高渗的细胞（以肾亨氏袢的髓质细胞为代表）内产生电中性的非扩散性渗透质。AR对葡萄糖的亲和力弱，正常条件下产生少量作用物，糖尿病时一些细胞的细胞内葡萄糖明显增加，导致山梨醇的增加和积聚，损害细胞，并引发糖尿病的某些长期并发症。作者对AR的作用及其抑制剂作为慢性糖尿病并发症的治疗药的可能性进行了讨论。 Aldose reductase (AR), present in most tissues, converts glucose to sorbitol and further metabolizes fructose to its physiological role in the hypertrophic (represented by the medullary kidney cells) Produces electrically neutral, non-diffusive osmolytes. AR has a low affinity for glucose and produces a small amount of action under normal conditions. Some cells in diabetes have a marked increase in intracellular glucose, leading to an increase and accumulation of sorbitol, damaging cells and triggering some of the long-term complications of diabetes. The authors discuss the role of AR and the potential of its inhibitors as therapeutic agents for chronic diabetic complications.