Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on retinal vascular permeability in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley albino male rats were divided into three groups. The three groups are as follow: (1) nondiabetic control group (non-DM Control), (2) diabetic control group (DM Control), (3) diabetic rats receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (DM HBO). Rats in DM HBO groups were incubated in an oxygen monoplace chamber. The hyperbaric oxygen condition was set at 2.5 atmospheres and 100% oxygen. The duration of single HBO treatment was 90 minutes. Rats in DM HBO groups received HBO three times per week for 3 months. Retinal vascular permeability was assessed by measuring FITC-labeled bovine albumin and retinal Evans blue leakage into the retina. Results: We found that the retinal parenchyma showed prominent thickening in rats with DM , corresponding to the retinal edema, compared to the control and DM HBO groups. FITC relative fluorescence intensity (Mean+/- SE) in normal control animals, diabetic animals, and HBO-treated diabetic animals was 356 +/- 47, 865 +/- 78, and 518 +/- 49, respectively, demonstrating significant difference among the mean of these three groups (n=7, p<0.05). Retinal Evans blue leakage in control animals, diabetic animals, and HBO-treated diabetic animals was 7.6 +/- 2.9, 18.5 +/- 4.2 and 10.2 +/- 3.1 µl plasmag retinal dry weight-1h-1, respectively, demonstrating significant difference between the means of diabetic and HBO-treated diabetic animals, and those of control and diabetic animals (n=8, P<0.05). Conclusions: HBO therapy may suppress the extent of the blood-retinal barrier breakdown in diabetic animals.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy