ABSTRACT
@#AIM: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of quercetin on age-related macular degeneration in mice through Nrf2/Keap1/ARE pathway. <p>METHODS: Kunming mice were used as research objects, which were divided into control group, model group and quercetin group. Fundus examination was showed whether yellow-white like glassy sputum substances appeared in the fundus of each group of mice; OCT was used to examine the retinal thickness of each group of mice; HE staining was used to observe the changes of retinal morphology in each group of mice; FFA was observed the fundus vascular integrity of each group of mice. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT and the contents of ROS and MDA in serum were detected by ELISA; Western blot was used to detect the expression of Nrf2/Keap1/ARE related proteins in the retina of each group. <p>RESULTS: Quercetin can reduce the yellow and white glassy wart substance in the fundus of mice and increase the thickness of the retina(<i>P</i><0.05), and the points of retinal vascular leakage is significantly reduced. Compared with the model group, the a-wave amplitude and b-wave amplitude of the quercetin group were significantly higher than those of the model group(<i>P</i><0.01); Quercetin can make the retinal structure of mice clearer, necrosis and shed part of the outer nuclear layer, and reduce the content of ROS and MDA in mouse serum(all <i>P</i><0.05), and increase the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT(all <i>P</i><0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of Nrf2 protein in the retinal cytoplasm of mice in the quercetin group was up-regulated(<i>P</i><0.05), and the expression of Nrf2 protein in the nucleus was down-regulated(<i>P</i><0.05), GCL protein expression was down-regulated(<i>P</i><0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Quercetin improved the oxidative stress state after retinal photodamage through the Nrf2/Keap1/ARE pathway, protected the retinal function, and protected against age-related macular degeneration.
ABSTRACT
Diabetic retinopathy ( DR ) is one of the main blinding eye diseases for people over the age of 50, and diabetic macular edema ( DME) is the leading cause of vision loss is DR patients. The early diagnosis and early treatment is important. As OCT and FFA, mfERG, especially the retinal thickness, volume, retinal edema index quantitative indicators such as objective evaluation of macular edema, embodies the new progress of retinal imaging technology in recent years. OCT is a non -contact clinical application in recent years, noninvasive, high resolution of ophthalmic imaging examination, can do it on retinal ultrastructure observation and quantitative analysis, and the technology is relatively mature, become a routine inspection diagnosis of macular edema. Laser photocoagulation, intravitreous injection with Ranibizumab and vitrectomy is nowadays the important means for the treatment of intractable macular edema.