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Effects of neferine on retinal tissue in experimental diabetic rat model

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivities, as well as apoptosis and oxidative stress levels in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, and determine how neferine affected these parameters.

Methods

Thirty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups of seven. Fasting blood glucose was measured 72 h after diabetes mellitus (DM) induction in 21 rats using 60 mg/kg STZ dissolved in 0.4 ml (0.1 M) sodium-citrate buffer (pH:4.5), with values > 250 mg/dl considered diabetic. Group 1 received no treatment. Group 3 (healthy rats) received daily intraperitoneal (IP) 4 mg/kg neferine. Following DM induction: Group 2 (sham) received daily IP 0.25 ml/kg 0.9% normal saline; Group 4 received single IP 0.01 mL (2.5 mg/kg) bevacizumab, followed by daily IP 0.25 mL/kg 0.9% normal saline; and Group 5 received daily IP 4 mg/kg neferine. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative stress (TOS) levels in serum and ocular tissue homogenates were evaluated using ELISA. TUNEL method was used for determining apoptosis and immuno-histochemical staining for PCNA and VEGF immunoreactivities.

Results

Group 5 had significantly higher TAC and lower TOS in serum and ocular tissue homogenates than Group 4 (p < 0.05). Despite significantly lower VEGF levels and apoptosis (p < 0.05), there was no significant change in PCNA immunoreactivity in Group 5 (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

DM was associated with lower TAC, higher TOS and apoptotic cells, as well as VEGF and PCNA immunoreactivities in the retina. Neferine altered parameters other than PCNA in the opposite direction, demonstrating reductive effects on DM.

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Data Availability

Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was funded by the Firat University Scientific Research Projects Unit under Project Number TF1958.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University Faculty of Medicine, Agri, Turkey

    Mehmet Cevik

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Firat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey

    Mehmet Cevik & Orhan Aydemir

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

    Hamidu Hamisi Gobeka

Authors
  1. Mehmet Cevik
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  3. Orhan Aydemir
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Contributions

The authors all contributed to the study’s conception and design. MC, HHG, and OA prepared the materials, collected data, and analyzed the results. MC wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all authors provided feedback on previous drafts. The final manuscript was read and approved by all of the authors. MC = Mehmet CEVIK, HHG = Hamidu Hamisi GOBEKA, OA = Orhan AYDEMİR.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamidu Hamisi Gobeka.

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The author(s) declare(s) no conflict of interest.

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All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials mentioned in this article.

Ethics Approval

The Animal Research and Ethics Committee at Firat University approved this animal study with the approval number and date 169-18.09.2019

Consent to Participate and Consent for Publication

My colleagues and I conducted the research and co-authored the manuscript. We have all approved the manuscript for submission and publication in your journal, and I am the corresponding author.

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Cevik, M., Gobeka, H.H. & Aydemir, O. Effects of neferine on retinal tissue in experimental diabetic rat model. Int Ophthalmol 43, 249–260 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-022-02424-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-022-02424-0

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