Expression levels of crystallin proteins (alpha-, beta- and gamma-) were assessed by Western blot analysis using pan-specific antibodies raised against alpha- (A, D), beta- (B, E) and gamma- (C, F) crystallin proteins respectively, 4 weeks after the onset of diabetes (A–C) in Long Evans (LE) and Brown Norway (BN) rats. Expression levels were also assessed at 12 weeks (D–F) in Sprague Dawley (SD), Long Evans (LE) and Brown Norway (BN) rats. Crystallin expression is normalized to actin levels and relative to the expression of the control littermates. Representative immunoblots and graphic representation of the corresponding quantification of the main products are presented for alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallin proteins respectively. C, control; D, diabetic. *Significantly different from control [P<0.05].