Resveratrol improves diabetic retinopathy possibly through oxidative stress - nuclear factor κB - apoptosis pathway

This study was designed to investigate the possible effectiveness of resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) administration on oxidative stress, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity and apoptosis rate in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic retinopathy.

Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normal control, diabetic control, normal rats treated with resveratrol, and diabetic rats treated with resveratrol. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg; ip), 15 min after the prescription of nicotinamide (110 mg/kg; ip) in 12 h fasted rats.

Four-month oral resveratrol administration (5 mg/kg/day) significantly alleviated hyperglycemia, weight loss, enhancement of oxidative markers (lipid peroxidation index and oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio) and superoxide dismutase activity in both blood and retinas of the diabetic rats. Moreover, resveratrol administration to diabetic rats improved the elevated levels of retinas NF-κB activity and apoptosis rate. On the other hand, four months resveratrol administration prevented from disarrangement and reduction in thickness of retinal layers.

These beneficial antidiabetic observations suggest that resveratrol may be considered as a therapeutic supplement to prevent from diabetic retinopathy.