title: [Protective effects of astragaloside IV on high-glucose-induced damage of retinal ganglion cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the protective effects of astragaloside IV on retinal ganglion cells (RGC) incubated under high glucose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured RGC-5 were divided into 3 groups: control, high glucose and high glucose+astragaloside IV. The survival rate of cell was measured by CCK-8 kit and flow cytometry. The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential were monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy while those of RGC-5 mitochondria observed by electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the cell survival rate was 100% in the control group, the survival rate improved after 1 h 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 µg/ml astragaloside IV pretreatment and high-glucose culture. The cell survival rates for 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L of astragaloside IV were 81.6%, 80.0%, the difference from the high glucose group (66%) was significant (P < 0.05) and 100 mg/L of astragaloside IV was the best protection concentration. The apoptotic rate for 100 mg/L astragaloside IV pretreated group of RGC-5 cell was 6.1%. And it could partially inhibit the RGC-5 cell apoptosis caused by high glucose (8.2%) (P < 0.05). In the high-glucose group, the cells showed marked increases in mitochondrial swelling, especially for cristae. Numerous normal mitochondria were observed in 100 mg/L astragaloside IV pretreated group. Astragaloside IV could elevate mitochondrial membrane potential and alleviate mitochondrial swelling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Astragaloside IV can protect RGC from high-glucose induced damage and may benefit the patients with diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, First Clinical Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Hong-yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xin-yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; C052064:astragaloside A; D005947:Glucose