Astragalus injection' effect on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and p53 in the retina of rats under hypoxia environment / 中华眼底病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the expression and mechanism of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and p53 protein at the altitude of 5000 meter plateau hypoxia environment in rats,as well as the effect of Astragalus injection.Methods Sixty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the Astragalus injection intervention group and normal saline control group,30 rats in each group.Astragalus injection group rats were intraperitoneal injected of Astragalus injection (15 ml/kg) before 30 minutes into the plateau environment simulation cabin,normal saline group rats were intraperitoneal injected with the same volume of saline.30 minutes after injection,rats in each group were reared in the plateau experiment cabin which simulated altitude of 5000 m (oxygen partial pressure 11.3 kPa) for 2,6,8,12,24 hours,each time period of 6 rats.When get out,the rats were executed immediately and eyes were harvested.Retinal sections were studied by hematoxylin eosin stain,and immunohistochemical method for HIF-1α and p53 expression.Results For control rats,after 2 hours in the cabin,there was edema in retinal layers.HIF-1α and p53 were expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of retinal layers.When the periods in cabin extended,there was atrophy of retinal nerve fiber layer,swelling and degeneration of ganglion cells.The expression of HIF-1α and p53 was increased.Compared with the control group,the intervention group rat had similar but less severe retinal changes,and the expression of HIF-1α and p53 was significantly decreased (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Astragalus injection can reduce pathological retinal damage in rats at high altitude environment,and its mechanism may be associated with reduced HIF-1α,p53 expression.