Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the expression of TNF-a, IL-17, c-PLA2, GFAP and P2X2 in the retina of type 1 diabetic rat treated with PPADS and Suramin
Methods: :
Sixteen male Wistar rats of 250gr were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 45mg/kg of streptozotocin. Only animals with glycemia levels above 200mg/dl were included in the study. The treated animals were divided into three groups of 4 rats. These were intraperitoneally injected with: 1) Suramin, 2) PPADS, 3) Suramin + PPADS at 9 and 26 weeks of diabetes in each group. Four remaining diabetic animals received no treatment. Twelve non-diabetic rats with the same age of diabetics were used as a control group. Animals were sacrificed after 38 weeks of diabetes. Cross sections of retinas were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies against GFAP, TNF-alfa, IL-17, cPLA2 and P2X2 receptor.
Results: :
Immunostaining of the analyzed antibodies were clearly up-regulated in diabetic animals without treatment. Diabetic rats treated with Suramin, PPADS and the combined compound showed up a pattern and immunostaining similar to that seen in the control group. Staining was much lower in animals treated with suramin than that found in those treated with PPADS
Conclusions: :
Suramin and PPADS may be good therapeutical candidates for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy during the inflammatory stage of the disease. Further studies are being conducted.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • retina