ABSTRACT
AIM:To clarify whether sulforaphane (SF) has protective effects on retina neuronal cells in dia-betic rats and to identify the related mechanisms involved in this process. METHODS:The diabetic rat model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The protective effects of SF were evaluated by measuring the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS),detecting apoptosis of retina neuronal cells with TUNEL staining and counting the survival retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were examined by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot. RE-SULTS:SF treatment significantly attenuated ROS generation, decreased the apoptosis of retina neuronal cells and in-creased the numbers of survival RGCs in the diabetic rats. Meanwhile,SF significantly increased the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and the protein level of HO-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats. However,HO-1 inhibitor,protoporphyrin Ⅸ zinc(Ⅱ) diminished the inhibitory effects of SF on RGCs apoptosis. CONCLUSION:SF partially exerts the beneficial neuroprotec-tive effects via the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway,therefore alleviating retinal oxidative stress and decrea-sing the apoptosis of retina neuronal cells.