Puerarin decreases apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells in diabetic rats by reducing peroxynitrite level and iNOS expression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of puerarin on retina pigment epithelial (RPE) cells of diabetic rats against apoptosis. One hundred and eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, streptozotocin (STZ) group and puerarin group. STZ and puerarin groups received 3 d of STZ injection (45 mg/kg per day, i.

Control of peroxyntrite-induced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase isoforms and antagonism of cholecystokinin octapeptide -8 in retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo.

Aim: To explore if peroxyntrite (ONOO(-)) induced iNOS via Fas/Fas/L pathway in diabetic rats and the effection of cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 (CCK-8) as therapeutic agent for decrease diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Thirty-six rats were taken as control group, seventy two were given (streptozotocin) STZ (45mg/kg) and then divided into ONOO(-) group and CCK-8 group (peritoneal injection CCK-8). STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with CCK-8 for 60 days.