title: Effect of α-linolenic acid on streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy indices in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both oxidative stress and inflammation play a significant role in the pathobiology of diabetic retinopathy. Increased consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may prevent or postpone the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy. Hence, the effect of α-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid, on oxidative stress, inflammatory indices and production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy indices in vivo was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and retina concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), plasma and retina concentrations of lipid peroxides and antioxidant enzymes were estimated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  STZ-induced diabetic rats had significantly higher levels of VEGF in the serum and retina and IL-6 in the serum, whereas BDNF was lower in the serum, all of which reverted to near normal in ALA-treated diabetic animals. STZ treatment decreased serum glutathione peroxidase levels, which was restored to normal by both pre- and post-ALA treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STZ-induced changes in serum glutathione peroxidase, BDNF, VEGF and IL-6 that reverted to near control by ALA treatment, especially in ALA + STZ group, lending support to the concept that both oxidative stress and inflammation participate in DR and ALA treatment is of benefit in its prevention.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Visual Science, Tongji Eye Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Biosystems Engineering & Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jun-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Sheng-rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shen-grong
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guo-Tong
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Undurti N
authors.initials: UN
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
keywords: BDNF; Diabetic retinopathy; Interleukin-6; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; VEGF; α-Linolenic acid