Icariin ameliorates streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy in vitro and in vivo.
This study investigated the effect of Icariin (ICA) supplementation on diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model system. Fifty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly distributed into a control group and a streptozotocin-induced diabetes group. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into two groups; one group received ICA 5 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks by oral gavage; the other group received saline gavage as a placebo. Retinal morphological changes, endothelial markers (RECA), collagen IV (Col-IV), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and neuropathic changes (Thy-1 and Brn3a expression) of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were investigated. The effects of ICA at various concentrations (0, 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) nmol/mL) on neurite growth were investigated also in retinal ganglion cells (RGC) cultured from both diabetic and normal animals. Numerous pathological changes (deceased expression of RECA, VEGF, Thy-1, and Brn3a as well as decreased Collagen IV and Müller cell content) were noted in the retinal vessels of diabetic rats; these changes were attenuated in diabetic animals that received ICA. ICA enhanced neurite growth in RGC from both normal rats and diabetic rats in a dose dependent fashion. ICA may be useful in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Further investigations are indicated.
Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing ChaoYang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China.
Hua
H
Xin
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Feng
F
Zhou
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Tao
T
Liu
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Guang-Yong
GY
Li
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Jing
J
Liu
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Zhe-Zhu
ZZ
Gao
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Guang-Yi
GY
Bai
Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing ChaoYang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China.
Hong
H
Lu
Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Zhong-Cheng
ZC
Xin
D000818:Animals; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000633:toxicity; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005419:Flavonoids; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013311:Streptozocin; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; C056599:icariin