Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: It has been reported that leukocyte entrapment is increased in the diabetic retina. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone, a novel insulin-sensitizing agent which was shown to inhibit the expression of adhesion molecules , on leukocyte entrapment in the retinal microcirculation of diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Brown-Norway rats by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60mg/kg). Diabetic rats were divided into 2 groups. Group A was treated with placebo. Group B was treated with pioglitazone (5mg/kg/day) orally during a 4-week diabetic period. Leukocyte entrapment in the retinal microcirculation was quantitatively evaluated in vivo with acridine orange digital fluorography. Results: Blood glucose levels in all diabetic rats were significantly increased compared with no diabetic rats, but were not different between the 2 groups. The number of leukocytes trapped in the retinal microcirculation at 30 minutes after dye injection was significantly greater in group A than no-diabetic rats (9.7±0.4,5.7±0.8cells/mm2, respectively, p<0.01). Compared with group A, the number of trapped leukocytes decreased significantly in group B (7.4±1.1cells/mm2, p<0.01). Conclusion: Oral administration of pioglitazone inhibits leukocyte entrapment in the retinal microcirculation.
Keywords: 339 cell adhesions/cell junctions • 387 diabetes • 554 retina