Prevention of Diabetic Ocular Complications in SDT Rat by Aminoguanidine

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: We have reported details of diabetic ocular complications observed in spontaneously diabetic Torii rat (SDT rat). Aged SDT rat shows proliferative diabetic retinopathy as well as cataract. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of anti AGE agent, aminoguanidine and antioxidant, probucol in SDT rat on the development of diabetic retinopathy and cataract. Methods: SDT rats had been kept on regular chaw diet until they developed diabetes estimated by glycosuria and high blood glucose levels (> 250 mg/dL). After the rats were confirmed to be diabetic (mean age of 35 weeks), 5 SDT rats were treated with aminoguanidine (0.5g/L in drinking water) and 4 SDT rats were treated with probucol (1% in pellets). Four SDT rats of the control were not treated with any drugs. After 55 weeks of age, fluorescein angiomicroscopy and pathological study was performed in each group. Results:Mature diabetic cataract and marked diabetic retinopathy (leakage of fluorescent die and narrowing of capillaries) were found in the control and probucol treated SDT rats. However, minimum cataract and no significant diabetic retinopathy were found in the aminoguanidine treated SDT rat. Conclusions: Aminoguanidine effectively prevented ocular complications, both of retinopathy and cataract in SDT rat. Whereas, probucol has not shown such preventive effects on diabetic ocular complications in SDT rat. In our knowledge, this is the first report to confirm that aminoguanidine prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy in spontaneously diabetic animals.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • animal model • drug toxicity/drug effects