Abstract:

[Abstract]   Objective   To investigate the role of puerarin in protecting the glaucomatous retina against the damage
induced by oxidative stress.   Methods   Twenty- four healthy adult male rabbits were divided into three groups: control
group, model group and therapy group with8rabbits per group. The glaucoma model rats of therapy group and model group were induced by injecting2.5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose into the anterior chamber of rabbits. The therapy group was treated by injecting puerarin into the peritoneal of rabbits (10mL/kg，one time a day for21days). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), the content and the redox state of glutathione and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the retina were measured at the fourth week after the induction of glaucoma by using corresponding kits.   Results   The activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT, the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the ratio of GSH/ oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in retina were lower in model group than those of control group. The contents of GSSG, MDA and NO were higher in model group than those of control group. The activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px, the content of GSH and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in retina were higher in therapy group than those of model group, but still lower than those of control group. The contents of GSSG, MDA and NO were lower in therapy group than those of model group. There was no statistical difference in the content of GSSGbetween therapy group and control group.   Conclusion   Puerarin can enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes and maintain the redox state of glutathione, which, in turn, alleviates the injury of the glaucomatous retina induced by oxidative stress.

Key words: Puerarin, glaucoma, oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide