Exercise ameliorates the development of diabetic retinopathy

One of the symptoms caused by Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) include leaky blood vessels, which causes a distortion in vision. DR generally manifests itself as asymptomatic on its onset, and is usually diagnosed in its proliferative phase. At this stage, therapeutic efforts are generally ineffective. Additionally, current therapeutic methods are palliative and not curative. Recent studies have suggested a causative role for metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in DR through (1) facilitating the apoptosis of retinal capillaries cells in the early development of the disease and (2) contributing to the abnormal neovascularization in the latter stages of the disease. Other studies have indicated that exercise reduces the level of MMP‐9 in plasma, as well as reducing its level in the heart of patients with Type II Diabetes. We hypothesize that exercise ameliorates the development of diabetic retinopathy through suppressing the activity and level of MMP‐9. The level, activity and mRNA expression of MMP‐9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and corneal collagen content in diabetic mice (db/db) were measured. Retinal vasculature tree morphology was also analyzed for apoptosis of retinal capillary cells. Fluorescence angiography was performed as well to analyze the leakiness of retinal vessels. The data resulted from the retinal vascular tree morphology suggested aneurysmic‐extreme dilation, which weakens the walls of retinal blood vessels‐and acellular capillaries in db/db mice, exercises reduces these defects. Further analyses should indicate that exercise reduces the defects in the retinal vasculature of db/db mice. Support or Funding Information Suresh Tyagi, PhD