ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To study the retinal expression of HIF-1 alpha in the diabetic NOD mice. METHODS: NOD mice were divided into normal control group and diabetes group randomly, sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 weeks. Eyes were enucleated and retinas were isolated and used for western blot, or eyes were sectioned for immunohistochemical staining for HIF-1 alphal. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, blood sugar of diabetes mice increased significantly but the weights decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Western blot of retinal lysates showed low levels of HIF-1 alpha at the 6th weeks that were markedly increased at the 12th weeks in the diabetes group. Immunohistochemistry showed increased staining for HIF-1 in the inner retina, but not in the outer retina. CONCLUSION: The retinal HIF-1 alpha levels increasing showed that retinal ischemia happening in the early diabetes. HIF-1 alpha may participate in the secondary damage of retinal ischemia induced by early diabetes.
