Abstract
Purpose :
Febuxostat (FBX), which is a therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia, has an inhibitory effect on xanthine oxidase. Some previous studies reported that the inhibition of uric acid production by FBX may prevent diabetic nephropathy due to reduced oxidase stress and an anti-inflammatory effect. However, it remains unclear whether FBX has a beneficial effect on diabetic retinopathy. We investigated the effect of the long-term administration of FBX on impaired retinal blood flow regulation in response to flicker stimulation, which is an index of retinal neurovascular coupling, in type 2 diabetic mice.
Methods :
Six-week-old db/db mice were randomly divided into an untreated group that received placebo (n=6) and a treated group, which received FBX (n=6). The longitudinal changes in retinal blood flow responses to systemic hyperoxia and flicker stimulation were evaluated every 2 weeks in diabetic db/db mice from 8 to 14 weeks of age. Retinal blood flow was assessed using laser speckle flowgraphy.
Results :
Resting retinal blood flow was steady and comparable between the two groups throughout the study. In db/db mice treated with FBX, the blood flow responses to systemic hyperoxia and flicker stimulation were significantly restored from 10 weeks of age in comparison to diabetic mice in the untreated group (P<0.05, P<0.001), and these beneficial effects were observed until 14 weeks of age.
Conclusions :
Our results suggest that the long-term administration of FBX can improve the impaired regulation of retinal blood flow in response to systemic hyperoxia and flicker stimulation in type 2 diabetic mice.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.