ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the protective effect of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on Müller cells in the retina of diabetic rats.Methods A total of 54 healthy male SD rats were recruited and randomly divided into control group,diabetic group and BDNF group.Then a diabetic model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in rats of diabetic and BDNF groups.Preparation of BDNF injection was performed using PBS balanced salt solution containing 0.1 g · L 1 BSA.The BDNF group was given BDNF injection,while the control and diabetic group were injected with equal dose of PBS balanced salt solution 4 weeks after successful modeling.And after 8 weeks,the expression of L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter (GLAST),glutamine synthetase (GS) and synaptophysin (SYN) were detected by immunofluorescence technique and Western blot,and the content of glutamic acid in retina was determined by glutamic acid determination kit.Results Compared with the control group,the expression of GLAST,GS and SYN were significantly decreased in diabetic group,and the content of glutamic acid was increased significantly (all P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the diabetic group,the expression of GLAST,GS and SYN were increased in BDNF group,and the glutamate level was decreased significantly (all P ＜0.01).Conclusion In the early stage of diabetic retinopathy,administration of exogenous BDNF can unregulated the expression of GLAST,SYN and GS and improve the function of Müller cells to protect RGC against damage,suggesting that BDNF has neuroprotective effects on Müller cells in retina of rats with diabetic retinopathy.