The Preventive Effect of Oxytocin on Retinopathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of intravitreal and intraperitoneal use of oxytocin (OT) on retinopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Twenty-four 6–8-week-old adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats were used in the study. Diabetes was induced in the rats with a single injection of intraperitoneal streptozotocin. Diabetes was verified after 48 hours by measuring blood glucose levels of 260 mg/dl (14.4 mmol/L) or higher in diabetic rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups and treated as follows: intravitreal physiological saline group (0.01 mL saline weekly), intravitreal OT group (10 μU/μL OT weekly), intraperitoneal physiological saline group (1 mL daily), and intraperitoneal OT group (100 IU/kg OT daily). Hamilton syringes fitted with 27-gauge needles were used for intraperitoneal injections while 31-gauge needles were used for intravitreal injection. After 4 weeks of treatment the rats were euthanized to evaluate outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoexpression, and plasma VEGF levels from blood samples obtained by cardiac puncture.

Morphometric analysis of retinal cross-sections showed that intravitreal and intraperitoneal OT significantly increased ONL thickness compared to physiological saline-treated groups. Also, OT treatment significantly decreased VEGF protein expression compared with the physiological saline groups. Plasma VEGF level was significantly higher in the physiological saline treatment group compared to the OT treatment group.

OT reduces diabetic retinopathy progression, particularly when administered intravitreally. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to investigate the impact of OT on diabetic retinopathy and may provide a new area for further research.