Study On The Gene Expression Of Phosducin In The Course Of Retinopathy Of Diabetic Rat Model

Objective:To detect the gene expression and location of phosducin in the retina of diabetic rat model of varied course, investigate the gene expression tendency and related effect of phosducin in the course of diabetic rat retinopathy, provide experimental basis for further research in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.Methods:Thirty-two spontaneous diabetic GK rats were chosen as experimental group and32age-matched normal Wistar rats were selected as control group. According to the course of diabetes, the diabetic GK rats were further divided into4groups consisting of4weeks group,8weeks group,16weeks group, and24weeks group. Eight rats in each group. Those normal Wistar rats were also further divided into4groups as the diabetic GK rats. The correlation between the course of diabetes and the degree of retinopathy was analyzed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). The gene expression of phosducin in the course of diabetic rat retinopathy was analyzed by real time semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-real-time PCR) technique. The location of phosducin in the retinal tissue of diabetic GK rats was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:1. The results of FFA showed that the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in diabetic GK rats had no completely positive correlation with the course of diabetes and the level of blood glucose.2. The results of RT-real-time PCR revealed that there were no significant differences of the gene expression of phosducin in the retina among the control groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control groups, the gene expression of phosducin in the retina was lower in the experimental groups. The level of gene expression of phosducin in the retina of the diabetic GK rats was decreased as the increase of weeks. The level of gene expression of phosducin was the lowest in the diabetic GK rats of24weeks (P<0.01).3. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that there were no significant differences of the number of phosducin immunopositive cells among the control groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control groups, the number of phosducin immunopositive cells was lower in the experimental groups. The number of phosducin immunopositive cells in the retina of the diabetic GK rats was decreased as the increase of weeks. The number of phosducin immunopositive cells was the lowest in the diabetic GK rats of24weeks (P<0.01).Conclusion:1. The development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in diabetic GK rats had no completely positive correlation with the course of diabetes and the level of blood glucose.2. Phosducin is an important regulatory factor in visual adaptation, plays a significant role in the signal channel of phototransduction. The expression of phosducin is closely related to the dysfunction of nerve cells and the course of diabetes.3. The abnormal expression of phosducin maybe a cause of early disorder of visual function.