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Updated: May 29, 2026
An Assay to Detect Protection of the Retinal Vasculature from Diabetes-Related Death in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2024
Resveratrol blocks diabetes-induced early vascular lesions and vascular endothelial growth factor induction in mouse
Young Hee Kim1, Yoon Sook Kim, Gu Seob Roh
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, BK21 Biomedical Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Purpose:
Vessel leakage and loss of pericytes are early signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), which leads to vision loss. Upregulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during diabetes plays a key role in mediating these vascular lesions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of resveratrol, a natural plant-derived phytoalexin, on vascular damage and VEGF induction in mouse retinas of early diabetes.
Methods:
Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by five consecutive-intraperitoneal injections of 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Animals injected with buffer only were used as controls. Beginning 1 month after the fifth injection of STZ or buffer, 20 mg/kg of resveratrol was administered by oral gavage daily for 4 weeks to diabetic and control mice, and all mice were killed 2 months after the injections. We assessed vessel leakage, pericyte loss and VEGF protein expression in mouse retinas of 2-month diabetes compared with controls with or without resveratrol treatment.
Results:
Diabetes led to increase vessel leakage, pericyte loss and VEGF protein level in the mouse retinas compared with controls; however, these changes were effectively blocked by resveratrol treatment.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that resveratrol is effective to decrease vascular lesions and VEGF induction in mouse retinas of early diabetes.
Insights
Resveratrol, a natural compound, effectively reduced vascular leakage and pericyte loss in mouse retinas during early diabetes. This natural treatment also decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induction, offering potential for diabetic retinopathy management.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss, characterized by early signs of vessel leakage and pericyte loss.
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upregulation in diabetes is a key mediator of these damaging vascular lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effects of resveratrol, a plant-derived phytoalexin, on vascular damage and VEGF induction in the retinas of mice with early diabetes.
- To assess resveratrol's potential in mitigating early-stage diabetic retinopathy complications.
Main Methods:
- Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice using streptozotocin (STZ).
- Diabetic and control mice received daily oral resveratrol (20 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, starting 1 month post-STZ injection.
- Vessel leakage, pericyte loss, and VEGF protein levels in retinal tissues were evaluated 2 months after STZ/buffer injection.
Main Results:
- Diabetes significantly increased retinal vessel leakage, pericyte loss, and VEGF protein levels compared to control mice.
- Resveratrol treatment effectively counteracted these diabetes-induced changes, blocking vessel leakage and pericyte loss.
- Resveratrol administration also significantly reduced elevated VEGF protein levels in the retinas of diabetic mice.
Conclusions:
- Resveratrol demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing vascular lesions and inhibiting VEGF induction in the context of early experimental diabetes.
- These findings suggest resveratrol holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for managing early diabetic retinopathy.
