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Calcium dobesilate attenuates vascular injury and the progression of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Author(s) -
Padilla Eugenia,
Ganado Patricia,
Sanz Mercedes,
Zeini Miriam,
Ruiz Emilio,
Triviño Alberto,
Ramírez Ana I.,
Salazar Juan J.,
Ramírez Jose M.,
Rojas Blanca,
Hoz Rosa de,
Tejerina Teresa
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.487
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetic retinopathy , diabetes mellitus , streptozotocin , insulin , retinopathy , endocrinology , retinal , ophthalmology
Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a highly specific vascular complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Calcium dobesilate (DOBE) has been tested in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy showing a slowdown of the progression of the disease after long‐term oral treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of DOBE on vascular and diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced in wistar rats by the administration of STZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.). Rats were divided into three groups ( n = 30). Group 0 (GO): nondiabetic rats. Group 1 (G1): 14 months of insulin treatment after diabetes development. Group 2 (G2): 14 months of insulin treatment after diabetes development plus DOBE (500 mg/kg/day). At the end of the treatment, vascular reactivity was tested. The study of the vascularization of the retina was performed on wholemounts of trypsin retinal digest preparations and retinal sections. Results Relaxation induced by acetylcholine decreased in the aorta arteries from diabetic rats but it was restored to control values in the DOBE‐treated group (71.8 ± 4.5%, 53.3 ± 0.5%, 67.4 ± 4.6% in group 0, 1 and 2 respectively). DOBE treatment also restored noradrenaline (1.08 ± 0.05 g, 1.70 ± 0.08 g, 1.13 ± 0.05 g in group 0, 1 and 2 respectively) and caffeine‐induced contractions. Diabetic state did not cause any alteration in mesenteric arteries. The analysis of the retinal digests showed vascular tortuosity, acellular capillaries, focal accumulations of capillaries and reduction of the number of pericytes in G1. The vascular changes observed in G2 seem to be intermediate between the control and the diabetic rats. Conclusions We showed that long‐term treatment with DOBE attenuated the progression of diabetic retinopathy and the alterations in vascular reactivity in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.