The effect of palm oil-derived tocotrienol-rich fraction in preserving normal retinal vascular diameter in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

• Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
• Main Authors: Abdul Ghani N.A., Abdul Nasir N.A., Lambuk L., Sadikan M.Z., Agarwal R., Ramli N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH 2023
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85145898569&doi=10.1007%2fs00417-022-05965-3&partnerID=40&md5=0826fa4dfa2fe04f1c2b5bcb99688fa1

Purpose: Angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with increased retinal expression of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and protein kinase C (PKC). Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) has been shown to reduce the expression vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in several experimental models. However, its effect against other angiogenic markers such as Ang-2 and PKC in rat model of diabetes remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of TRF on the retinal vascular changes and Ang-2 and PKC expressions in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into normal control rats (N) which received vehicle, and diabetic rats which either received vehicle (DV) or 100 mg/kg of TRF (DT). Diabetes was induced with intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg body weight). Treatments were given orally, once daily, for 12 weeks after confirmation of hyperglycaemia. Fundus photographs were captured at baseline, 6- and 12-week post-STZ injection and average diameter of retinal veins and arteries were measured. At 12-week post-STZ injection, rats were euthanised, and retinae were collected for measurement of Ang-2 and PKC gene and protein expressions. Results: Retinal venous and arterial diameters were significantly greater in DV compared to DT at week 12 post-STZ injection (p < 0.001 and < 0.05, respectively). The vessel diameter measurements in DT were comparable to N and this effect of TRF was associated with significantly lower Ang-2 and PKC gene and protein expressions compared to DV. Conclusion: Oral TRF reduces the expression of retinal angiogenic markers and preserves the retinal vascular diameter of rats with STZ-induced DR. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.