Activation of endogenous angiotensin converting enzyme 2 prevents early injuries induced by hyperglycemia in rat retina
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
48(12): 1109-1114, Dec. 2015. graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-762913
ABSTRACT
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus that may result in blindness. We evaluated the effects of activation of endogenous angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) 2 on the early stages of DR. Rats were administered an intravenous injection of streptozotocin to induce hyperglycemia. The ACE2 activator 1-[[2-(dimethylamino) ethyl] amino]-4-(hydroxymethyl)-7-[[(4-methylphenyl) sulfonyl] oxy]-9H-xanthone 9 (XNT) was administered by daily gavage. The death of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) was evaluated in histological sections, and retinal ACE2, caspase-3, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. XNT treatment increased ACE2 expression in retinas of hyperglycemic (HG) rats (control 13.81±2.71 area%; HG 14.29±4.30 area%; HG+XNT 26.87±1.86 area%; P<0.05). Importantly, ACE2 activation significantly increased the RCG number in comparison with HG animals (control 553.5±14.29; HG 530.8±10.3 cells; HG+XNT 575.3±16.5 cells; P<0.05). This effect was accompanied by a reduction in the expression of caspase-3 in RGC of the HG+XNT group when compared with untreated HG rats (control 18.74±1.59; HG 38.39±3.39 area%; HG+XNT 27.83±2.80 area%; P<0.05). Treatment with XNT did not alter the VEGF expression in HG animals (P>0.05). Altogether, these findings indicate that activation of ACE2 reduced the death of retinal ganglion cells by apoptosis in HG rats.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Retinal Diseases
/
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
/
Secondary Prevention
/
Hyperglycemia
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Medicine
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/BR
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