A new advanced glycation inhibitor, LR-90, prevents experimental diabetic retinopathy in rats.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the retinal microvasculature. LR-90 is an effective multistage inhibitor of advanced glycation with renoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of LR-90 in the progression of experimental diabetic retinopathy.


METHODS
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with LR-90 (50 mg/l in drinking water) for up to 32 weeks. At the end of the study, eyes were enucleated and subjected to trypsin digestion and staining with light green/haematoxylin. Acellular capillaries and pericytes were quantified in random fields using light microscopy.


RESULTS
In the LR-90-treated diabetic animals, acellular capillary numbers were reduced to 1.63 (0.20) from 2.58 (0.49) (p<0.05) in diabetic controls. LR-90 treatment also restored the pericyte deficit from 18.12 (0.98) in diabetic rats to 24.19 (0.76) (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show that LR-90 can effectively inhibit important lesions of diabetic retinopathy. This agent has potential for preventing retinopathy in patients with diabetes.
Bhatwadekar
A
A
Centre for Vision Science, Queen's University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road Belfast BT 126BA, Northern Ireland, UK. a.stitt@qub.ac.uk
Glenn
J V
JV
Figarola
J L
JL
Scott
S
S
Gardiner
T A
TA
Rahbar
S
S
Stitt
A W
AW
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002087:Butyrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D002087:Butyrates; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; C485003:LR-90; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine