Effect of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract (GSPE) on Type II Diabetic Retinopathy in Rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract(GSPE) on type Ⅱ diabetic retinopathy in rats.Methods: To establish type Ⅱ diabetic rat models,male SD rats fed high fat diet for 4 weeks were injected with streptozotocin(STZ,0.01 mol/L,30 mg/(kg.d)).The diabetic rats were randomly divided into diabetes-vehicle group(DM control group),three GSPE-treated groups.Normal rats were enrolled as normal control group.The low,medium and high-dose GSPE-treated groups were administrated at 125,250 mg/(kg.d) and 500 mg/(kg.d),respectively.DM control group and normal control group were given equal volume of distilled water.After 16 weeks,body weight,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),advanced glycation endproducts(AGEs),ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured.HE stain retina paraffin section was examined under a microscope.Receptor for RAGEs was detected by SP immunohistochemical method.Results: There was no difference(P 0.05) between DM control group and GSPE-treated groups.Compared with DM control group,AGEs in GSPE high dose group were decreased(P 0.05),ICAM-1(all GSPE-treated groups) and VCAM-1(GSPE low and high dose groups) were decreased(P 0.05).The retina of GSPE-treated groups had fewer damaged areas and lower RAGE expression in histology.Conclusion: GSPE has a positive effect on type Ⅱ diabetic retinopathy in rats.