Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in retina of experimental diabetic rats and its significance

Objective To investigate the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) in retina of different period diabetic rats and its correlation with the progression of diabetic retinopathy.Methods Sixty-four Wistar rats were random divided into normal control(NC) group( 16 rabbits) and diabetes mellitus(DM) group(48 rabbits).Streptozotocin(STZ) was injected into the abdominal cavity to induce the DM in the DM group,then the successful models were random devided into 2 weeks group,4 weeks group,12 weeks group and 20 weeks group,12 rats in each group.The expression of MCP-1 in retina was assessed by Western Blotting and immunohistochemical method in different period,the result of Western Boltting was analyzed by computer-picture analysis system.Results The results of Western Blotting showed that the protein level of MCP-1 was very weak in normal rats;In 2 weeks group,the protein level of MCP-1 increased more significantly than that in control group (P0.05).The results of immunohistochemical method showed that MCP-1 did not express in normal rat retina;In 2 weeks group,MCP-1 positive expressed in the vessel wall on retinal surface,and with the progression of diabetes,the expression of MCP-1 increased continually,and reached peak at 12 weeks.Conclusion The expression of MCP-1 in the retina may has a close relation with the progression of diabetic retinopathy.