OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Huoxue Jiedu Recipe (HJR) on the electroretinogram (ERG) and the expression of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in the retina tissue of early diabetic rats.

METHODSThe diabetic rat model was established using one single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg). Then the modeled rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the model group, the low dose HJR group (3.85 g/kg), the middle dose HJR group (7.70 g/kg), the high dose HJR group (15.40 g/kg), and the Western medicine treatment group (Calcium Dobesilate Capsule, 0.167 g/kg), 8 in each group. A normal control group consisting of 8 rats was also set up, which was given equal volume of distilled water by gastrogavage. All rats were medicated by gastrogavage for 20 weeks. The electroretinograph (ERG) was determined. The amplitudes of wave a and b (the maximal electric reaction for dark-adapted eyes), and the amplitude sum of the oscillatory potentials (OPs) were detected. The integral optical density (IOD), the protein and mRNA expression of GFAP were detected using immunohistochemical assay, Western blot, and fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group,the amplitudes of wave a, wave b, and OPs decreased in the model group (P<0.01). The protein and mRNA expressions of IOD and GFAP significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the amplitudes of wave b and OPs increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of IOD and GFAP significantly decreased in each HJR group. The amplitude of wave a in the middle and high dose HJR groups increased. The amplitude of wave b increased and the IOD expression decreased in the Western medicine treatment group, showing statistical difference (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in each index between the Western medicine treatment group and each HJR group.

CONCLUSIONHJR could attenuate the visual electrophysiological dysfunction in early diabetic rat, showing certain protection on retinal glial cells.