Effect of berberine on PPARalpha/delta/gamma expression in type 2 diabetic rat retinae.
Retinopathy is a major cause of morbidity in diabetes and remains the primary cause of new blindness. Therefore, it is necessary to find new drug to treat diabetic retinopathy. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats were induced by injection (ip) with streptozotocin (STZ) 35 mg x kg(-1) and fed with a high-carbohydrate/high-fat diet 2 weeks later. From week 17 to 32, diabetic rats were given different doses of berberine 75, 150, and 300 mg x kg(-1), fenofibrate 100 mg x kg(-1) and rosiglitazone 4 mg x kg(-1), separately. Retinal structure was observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) alpha/delta/gamma protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry. The retina of control rats was thicker than that of other groups, 16 weeks treatment with berberine (150 and 300 mg x kg(-1)) and rosiglitazone 4 mg x kg(-1) thickened the diabetic retina, but no difference existed in retinal structure among groups. Both berberine (150 and 300 mg x kg(-1)) and rosiglitazone 4 mg x kg(-1) significantly decreased PPARy expression in diabetic retina; while berberine (150 and 300 mg x kg(-1)) and fenofibrate 100 mg x kg(-1) obviously increased both PPARalpha and PPARdelta expressions in diabetic retina. Berberine modulates PPARalpha/delta/gamma protein levels in diabetic retina which may contribute to ameliorate retinopathy complication induced by STZ and a high-carbohydrate/high-fat diet. It is expected that berberine might be a more beneficial drug to treat diabetic retinal complication comparing with fenofibrate and rosiglitazone.
Zhou
Ji-yin
JY
Base for Drug Clinical Trial, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University of PLA, Chongqing 400037, China.
Zhou
Shi-wen
SW
D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047494:PPAR delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047493:PPAR alpha; D047494:PPAR delta; D047495:PPAR gamma; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D001599:Berberine; D011345:Fenofibrate