Puerarin decreases apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells in diabetic rats by reducing peroxynitrite level and iNOS expression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of puerarin on retina pigment epithelial (RPE) cells of diabetic rats against apoptosis. One hundred and eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, streptozotocin (STZ) group and puerarin group. STZ and puerarin groups received 3 d of STZ injection (45 mg/kg per day, i.p.). Additionally, puerarin groups were treated with puerarin (140 mg/kg, i.p.) from the 4th day to the end of experiment. The rats from different groups were sacrificed on 20, 40 and 60 d after STZ injection for harvesting RPE cells. Western blot analysis, DNA laddering, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used for determining the expression of nitrotyrosine (NT, the foot print of peroxynitrite), cell apoptosis, iNOS mRNA and Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) signal transduction in RPE cells, respectively. The results showed that control group maintained low apoptosis level and little NT, iNOS mRNA, Fas/FasL protein expressions, as well as normal blood glucose and body weight during 60 d of the experiment. Compared with control group, STZ group showed obvious apoptosis and higher NT, iNOS mRNA, Fas/FasL protein expressions from 20 d after STZ injection. Puerarin relieved apoptosis of RPE cells and decreased NT, iNOS mRNA, Fas/FasL protein expressions in puerarin group 20 or 40 d after STZ injection, compared with STZ group. These results suggest puerarin can decrease RPE cells apoptosis in diabetic rats by reducing peroxynitrite level and iNOS expression, thus being a potential therapeutic agent in controlling of diabetic retinopathy.