Authors: Yang Peiyao, Zhao Jun, Zhang Juanmei, Gao Yunxia, Zhan Weijiao, Wang Yun, Wang Qiang, Xue Youyu
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Objective
To investigate the mechanisms of paeoniflorin in protection of retinal ischemia injury.
Methods
Fifty-four male specefic pathogen free (SPF) degree Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group and paeoniflorin group.Retinal ischemia injury was induced by raising the intraocular pressure of right eyes of rats to 110 mmHg for 30 minutes.The rats of paeoniflorin group were administrated through intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg paeoniflorin each day for 14 days.OCT and electroretinogram (ERG) were performed to detect the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer+ retinal ganglion cell layer+ inner plexiform layer (NGI) and electrophysiological changes of retina, respectively.Retrograde labelling of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was used to evaluate the survival number of RGCs.Western blot analysis was used to detect NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC), cleaved caspase 1 (c-caspase 1), IL-18, and IL-1β expression.The use and care of animals complied with the statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.
Results
The thickness of retinal NGI in model control group was (58.2±1.7)μm, which was significantly lower than (84.8±1.9)μm in normal control group and (71.1±2.4)μm in paeoniflorin group (both at P<0.05). The amplitudes of A and B waves in paeoniflorin group and normal control group were significantly higher than those in model control group (both at P<0.05). The number of RGC in model control group was significantly lower than that in paeoniflorin group and normal control group (both at P<0.05). The relative expressions of NLRP3, ASC, c-caspase 1, IL-18 and IL-1β in model control group were significantly higher than those in normal control group and paeoniflorin group (all at P<0.05).
Conclusions
The paeoniflorin can prevent retinal ischemia induced injury of the retina through NLRP3 inflammasomes pathway, which provides a new treatment strategy for clinical therapy.