title: Treatment with hydrogen sulfide alleviates streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retinopathy, as a common complication of diabetes, is a leading cause of reduced visual acuity and acquired blindness in the adult population. The aim of present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of hydrogen sulfide on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic retinopathy in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were injected with a single i.p. injection of STZ (60 mg·kg⁻¹) to induce diabetic retinopathy. Two weeks later, the rats were treated with NaHS (i.p. injection of 0.1 mL·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ of 0.28 mol·L⁻¹ NaHS, a donor of H₂S) for 14 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with H₂S had no significant effect on blood glucose in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Treatment with exogenous H₂S enhanced H₂S levels in both plasma and retinas of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Treatment with H₂S in STZ-treated rats improved the retinal neuronal dysfunction marked by enhanced amplitudes of b-waves and oscillatory potentials and expression of synaptophysin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, alleviated retinal vascular abnormalities marked by reduced retinal vascular permeability and acellular capillary formation, decreased vitreous VEGF content, down-regulated expressions of HIF-1α and VEGFR2, and enhanced occludin expression, and attenuated retinal thickening and suppressed expression of extracellular matrix molecules including laminin β1 and collagen IVα3 expression in retinas of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Treatment with H₂S in retinas of STZ-induced diabetic rats abated oxidative stress, alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction, suppressed NF-κB activation and attenuated inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with H₂S alleviates STZ-induced diabetic retinopathy in rats possibly through abating oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, 309th Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China. siyanfang2012@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yan-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D063928:Ependymoglial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D064426:Gasotransmitters / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013311:Streptozocin; D013440:Sulfides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D064426:Gasotransmitters; D013440:Sulfides; D013311:Streptozocin; C025451:sodium bisulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide