title: [Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on the retinal ultrastructure of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the retinal ultrastructure of streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and the intervention effect of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides (LBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The STZ-induced diabetic SD rat model was established. LBP was given to those in the treatment group by gastrogavage. Changes of body weight, blood glucose, and retinal ultrastructure at 24-week were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early retinal changes covered mitochondrion changes, cell degeneration and apoptosis of retinal neurons and neuroglia cells in the diabetic rats. No change of body weight or blood glucose was observed between the LBP group and the diabetic model group (P > 0.05). The ultrastructural changes were obviously relieved by LBP, and limited to the inner nuclear layer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBP could obviously relieve pathological changes of mitochondrion, hinder neural cell apoptosis. Its effect might not be achieved by lowering blood glucose. It was expected to be used in preventing and treating early diabetic retinal neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Institute of Fujian Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Institute of Fujian Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Institute of Fujian Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
authors.forename: Ze-Jiang
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Institute of Fujian Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Institute of Fujian Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C500223:lycium barbarum polysaccharide