The pathological changes of diabetic retinopathy, a vascular complication of diabetes, are thought to be caused by metabolic disturbances. Pericytes are involved in endothelial cell stimulation and guidance, as well as in endothelial stabilization and maturation in the vascular network. Once the pericyte-endothelial cell interaction breaks down, thickening of the basement membrane and increase in permeability occur, resulting in the onset of proliferative retinopathy. We focused on the polyol pathway, and investigated the association between the abnormality of the polyol pathway and the pericyte damage in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Correction of the polyol pathway disturbance by treatment with an aldose reductase inhibitor inhibited the onset of pericyte loss, thickening of the basement membrane and development of microaneurysms of the retinal capillaries. Therefore, to elucidate the significance of the polyol pathway, we examined whether activation of the pathway may potentiate the damage to the retinal pericytes. The damage to the pericytes was potentiated by activation of the polyol pathway. Furthermore, we investigated the inhibitory effects of the polyol pathway on advanced diabetic retinopathy in spontaneously diabetic Torii rats, a type Ⅱ diabetic model. Correction of the disturbed polyol pathway suppressed the progression of diabetic retinopathy. In conclusion, these results suggest that abnormality of the polyol pathway may contribute to the pathology in all stages of diabetic retinopathy.
雑誌書誌ID
AA1258935X
雑誌名
岐阜薬科大学紀要
雑誌名(英)
The annual proceedings of Gifu Pharmaceutical University